INDONESIA EXPEL RAISE OBJECTION OF CINA ABOUT NORTH NATUNA SEA

The Indonesian government rejects Chinese protests over naming the South China Sea into the North Natuna Sea. According to the Coordinating Ministry of Marine Affairs, the naming only covers the territorial waters of Indonesia.

The Indonesian government brushed off China's objections to naming the South China Sea into the North Natuna Sea. According to the Coordinating Minister for the Ministry of Marine Affairs, Luhut Binsar Padjaitan, the name change only concerns the area of ​​waters around the Natuna islands that are included in the Exclusive Economic Zone of Indonesia.

"The change of the name of the actual map of the Indonesian territory is reviewed," he told Kompas.

Previously, China criticized Indonesia's move because it is considered potentially disrupt the stability of security in the region. "This name change does not make any sense," said Geng Shuang, a foreign ministry spokesman in Beijing. "We hope the related countries can work together with China to jointly maintain a conditional situation in the South China Sea," he said.

The Indonesian government argues that a change of name is needed to reduce uncertainty about borders. In addition, the name of North Natuna Sea has also been used by the oil and gas industry since several years ago.

"The map of Indonesia has clear coordinates and data, and the government will not negotiate with other countries that make non-conventional claims, including those who insist on a map with nine broken lines," said Arif Havas Oegroseno, Maritime Sovereign Deputy of the Coordinating Ministry for the Ministry of Marine Affairs.

According to Oegroseno, his agency has reviewed the re-mapping of Indonesian waters since mid-2016. The move was taken to create legal clarity at sea and secure the Exclusive Economic Zone of Indonesia.

Although it does not deal with China related to the South China Sea, Beijing's claim to the territorial waters also includes part of the Exclusive Economic Zone of Indonesia in the north of the Natuna Islands. In addition the Indonesian military is also often faced with the Chinese Coast Guard Force who escorted the fishing boats north of Natuna.