After the Chinese government said it has “overlapping claims” with Vietnam over maritime rights in parts of the East Sea, Indonesia rubbished the statement, rejected China’s offer for any negotiations and said that Jakarta’s economic interests are threatened by China’s Nine-Dash Line.
China’s permanent mission to the UN in a letter said, “There is no territorial dispute between China and Indonesia in the South China Sea. However, China and Indonesia have overlapping claims on maritime rights and interests in some parts of the South China Sea,” reported Vietnam Times. “China is willing to settle the overlapping claims through negotiation and consultation with Indonesia, and work together with Indonesia to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea,” the letter said.
This came when the Chinese government, in a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on June 2, claimed that there is no territorial dispute with Indonesia and rather the two countries had overlapping claims over maritime rights in parts of the East Sea, reported Vietnam Times.
Reacting to this, Damos Dumoli Agusman, Director General of international law and treaties at Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told BenarNews, that there is no relevance in holding any dialogue on maritime boundary delimitation.
“Based on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982 Indonesia does not have overlapping claims with the PRC, so it is not relevant to hold any dialogue on maritime boundary delimitation,” he said. “It was stated that we reject (any negotiation),” Damos added.
Earlier, Indonesian foreign minister Retno Marsudi said that Indonesia’s economic interests are threatened by China’s Nine-Dash Line.
China often violates the territorial waters of countries in the East China and South China Seas and it has now mustered Russia’s support raising suspicion of military activity in the region, a report said.
Japan spotted Chinese and Russian warships just outside its territorial waters around the disputed East China Sea islands for several minutes on July 4, an article in Asian Lite international read. Japan claimed that the Senkaku Islands are an inherent part of their territory historically and under international law, adding that the government will deal with the matter calmly but firmly to protect the Japanese land, territorial waters and air space. Zhao Lijian, the spokesperson of China’s Foreign Ministry claimed that the activities of Chinese vessels in waters nearby are lawful and justified. Japan’s relations with China are deteriorating over geopolitical tensions amid strong undercurrents of anti-China sentiments and security threats.
People in Japan have already expressed their displeasure over China making claims on Senkaku Islands (Diaoyu Islands in Chinese). The patrolling of the Senkaku Islands, the uninhabited islands controlled by Japan, by China is one such tactic that China continues to use tactics in the Taiwan Strait, the Washington-based group Global Strat View said. China and Taiwan have laid claims to the Islands causing Japan to increase its fortifications on the Yonaguni Islands, which are closest to Taiwan. Around 70 sightings of Chinese vessels were reported outside the contiguous zone of 24 nautical miles by Japan last year.
China and Taiwan have laid claims to the Islands causing Japan to increase its fortifications on the Yonaguni Islands, which are closest to Taiwan. Around 70 sightings of Chinese vessels were reported outside the contiguous zone of 24 nautical miles by Japan last year.