A month and a half after a large Chinese research vessel entered the Natuna Sea, Indonesia still appears to be pursuing a calm and cautious approach at sea, despite public pressure.

Since August 31, the Haiyang Dizhi 10 has been operating in the northern Natuna Sea, near a major oil and gas field, the Tuna Block. It took a few days off to restock at the end of September, but returned to the scene in early October.

Jakarta played down the Chinese ship’s presence, even after experts pointed out that the grid-like pattern it creates is typical of a seabed study. National pressure has increased with some researchers, such as Imam Prakoso of the Indonesia Ocean Justice Initiative, claiming that the Haiyang Dizhi 10 is likely to have “carried out illegal research activities”.

Indonesian government must take “firm action,” Imam said in an interview with BenarNews, an online news service affiliated with RFA, when the Haiyang Dizhi 10 entered Indonesia’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) on October 5. . “Do they have the authorization or not? Otherwise it is clearly illegal because we have clear rules regarding scientific research activities at sea,” he said.

However, on Monday, the Indonesian Minister for the Coordination of Maritime Affairs and Investments, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, dismissed Natuna Sea’s concerns.

“We respect the freedom of navigation in the Natuna Sea,” Luhut said at the Catholic University of America in Washington DC, where he gave a lecture entitled “Indonesia’s role in a global context”.

Indonesian officials insisted that the Chinese vessel had not committed any offenses and that all foreign vessels were allowed to cross the Natuna Sea.

“I think Indonesia is very selective in how and when it reacts and responds to China’s assertiveness, which I would even call provocation, in the Natuna Sea,” said Huong Le Thu, Senior Analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute.

She said that many Indonesian thinkers are convinced that they can deal with China through dialogue, and that it takes time. But she added that in the meantime, “China has modernized its military capability, reclaimed islands in the South China Sea and grown in ambition.”

“I don’t think we have all the time as many would assume in Jakarta,” Huong said.

Nonetheless, some Indonesian experts believe that Jakarta has undertaken undisclosed but determined efforts to defend its national interests in the Natuna Sea.

“The fact that the Indonesian Navy and Bakamla (the Indonesian Maritime Safety Agency) are deploying warships and cutters to follow Haiyang Dizhi shows (the) Indonesian position,” said Satya Pratama, current senior government official and former captain of Bakamla.

“He doesn’t need to resort to affirmative action like ramming or whatever,” he told BenarNews.

To protest or not to protest?

While Indonesia does not see itself as a party to the South China Sea dispute, which pits China’s massive claims against those of several of its neighbors, Beijing is claiming historic rights to areas straddling the exclusive economic zone of China. indonesia.

Satya conceded that “formal protest is the norm for cases like this. But I believe some members of the Indonesian government do not believe in megaphone diplomacy. “

Some other countries in the region, like Malaysia, have also preferred quiet diplomacy in the face of China’s assertion in the South China Sea.

But recently, Malaysia publicly protested the operation of another Chinese prospecting vessel, the Da Yang Hao, in its EEZ and even summoned the Chinese ambassador to Kuala Lumpur.

The Da Yang Hao left Malaysian waters two weeks later. It is not known whether the diplomatic protest played a decisive role. But Elina Noor, an expert at the Washington-based Asia Society Policy Institute, said that “for symbolic and substantial reasons, it is important that Malaysia continues to protest against such incursions, no matter what. ‘immediate effect”.

She said this “signals growing impatience and concern on the part of Malaysia over the growing boldness of China’s approach.”

However, Huong, an analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, believes that as a non-claimant from the South China Sea, Indonesia has a somewhat different position from claimants such as Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines. , who “can’t afford what Indonesia is.” do – take a step back from the “South China Sea” and focus only on “Natuna” ”.

She said Indonesia in recent years “has shown relatively more inward-looking tendencies” and is concerned about major national issues such as decentralization of authority, ethnic and religious issues, and COVID-19.

‘Brothers and sisters’

Luhut, who is also Indonesia’s coordinator for cooperation with China, explained his country’s policy towards China during his appearance at the Catholic University.

“All the documents, all the international laws are there – we just follow them,” he said. “We are discussing with our interlocutors in China, we agree to disagree in some areas but I think we are able to manage so far,” he told the audience, adding that the tensions there [in the South China Sea] are “not as bad as people think in the United States”

“We don’t think we have any problems with China,” Luhut said of Indonesia’s sea borders in the South China Sea.

Asked about the reported harassment of Indonesian fishermen by Chinese Coast Guard vessels in disputed waters, the coordinating minister said: “We are talking [with the Chinese side] on the phone and say, hey, stay away! “

“It’s like with your siblings, sometimes you have problems but don’t make a big deal out of it!” said Luhut.

According to the minister’s response, Indonesian officials appear keen to preserve the status quo in the South China Sea for the time being. It is also likely that the Haiyang Dizhi 10 will continue to ply the Sea of ​​Natuna for some time to come.