Indonesia can argue convincingly that small islands like Sipadan and Ligitan should not significantly influence maritime boundary delimitation—especially if doing so would cause inequitable results.

In Summary

Indonesia and Malaysia have yet to agree on their maritime boundary in the Sulawesi Sea. Ambalat, East Ambalat, ND6, and ND7 are names unilaterally assigned by each country, but the official name remains the Sulawesi Sea.

The priority now is to finalize the maritime boundary. Past incidents should serve as motivation to accelerate the process. Joint management is legally possible but requires comprehensive consideration. Both countries have their own interests, yet as close neighbors sharing cultural roots, they must strive to maintain harmony. (Uki Ruknuddin)

 

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