South China Sea: Indonesia Steps Up Patrol After Spotting Chinese, US Vessels Near Its Natuna Islands

Indonesia has stepped up air and Naval patrols around its Natuna Islands in the South China Sea, after reportedly spotting Chinese and US vessels nearby. This comes amid reports that a Chinese survey vessel did operate in the Tuna Block -- an important oil and gas field in the area.

Jakarta, however, maintained that the vessels were on international waters and it "had not caused any disturbance," reported Al Jazeera.

Indonesian Navy western fleet commander Arsyad Abdullah told reporters last week that five navy vessels, assisted by an air patrol, have been deployed in North Natuna Sea to secure the area.

"The Navy’s position on the North Natuna Sea is very firm in protecting national interests within the Indonesian jurisdiction in accordance with national law and international law that have been ratified so that there is no tolerance for any violations in the North Natuna Sea," Arsyad said.

Natuna Islands, now administered by Indonesia, comes in the northern reaches of its exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea. In 2017, Indonesia renamed the northern reaches as North Natuna Sea to counter China’s maritime territorial ambitions.

Though China has not yet laid claims on Natuna island, the northern part of the Natuna Sea also overlaps with the so-called "nine-dash line" that China uses to exert its sweeping claims in the South China Sea. The islands have been a subject of dispute since 1993 when Beijing published a map showing Chinese "historic claims” on a gas field northeast of the islands."

Though Jakarta did not report any intrusions this time, the country has witnessed multiple attempts by Chinese fishing vessels to enter into its territorial waters. Beijing is said to use fishing vessels to assert its sovereignty claims over territories in the South China Sea.

In January, Indonesia deployed its civilian patrol vessels outfitted with 30mm remote-controlled Stabilized Naval Gun Systems to patrol the area amid increasing Chinese intrusions.

Meanwhile, a Radio Free Asia report quoting ship-tracking data shows that Chinese survey vessel Haiyang Dizhi 10 did operate in the Tuna Block in the Indonesian exclusive economic zone (EEZ) last Friday. A Chinese coast guard vessel was also spotted nearby a day earlier.

The Indonesian navy also deployed two ships to the same to reportedly monitor Haiyang Dizhi’s movements in the Tuna Block, an important oil and gas field in the North Natuna Sea. Jakarta alleges that Beijing has been interfering with its drilling activities in the Tuna Block.

U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson also passed by the Haiyang Dizhi on Sept. 11, which analysts say was intended to send a message to the Chinese vessel.