Jakarta,November 11 (AseanAll) — On November 11, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a press release on maritime cooperation between Indonesia-China in the Joint Statement Between Indonesia and China Beijing, 9 November 2024.
In the spirit of the Declaration on the Conduct of the Parties in the South China Sea, agreed upon by ASEAN countries and China in 2002, as well as efforts to create peace in the South China Sea, Indonesia and China have agreed to establish maritime cooperation. This cooperation is envisioned to serve as an example to nurture peace and friendship in the region.
This cooperation is expected to cover several aspects of economic collaboration, especially in the fields of fisheries and fisheries conservation in the region, in line with the principles of mutual respect and equality.
The cooperation will also be implemented within the framework of the laws and regulations of each country. For Indonesia, this cooperation must be carried out pursuant to its laws and regulations, including laws on territory, the ratification of international maritime agreements, particularly the UNCLOS 1982, and bilateral agreements on the legal status of maritime areas and maritime delimitation; regulations on marine spatial planning, as well as conservation and fisheries management, taxes, and any other applicable regulations.
Moreover, all agreements, international obligations, and contracts made by Indonesia with respect to the area will remain unaffected and will continue to apply without change.
Nothing in the cooperation may be construed in any way as a recognition of the "9-Dash Line" claim. Indonesia maintains its well-known position that the claim lacks an international legal basis and is tantamount to undermining the UNCLOS 1982. Therefore, the cooperation shall, under no circumstances, affect Indonesia's sovereignty, sovereign rights, or jurisdiction in the North Natuna Sea.
Indonesia also believes that the cooperation will facilitate the conclusion of a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea.
