Republic of Indonesia Sovereign Right in North Natuna Sea according to United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982

ABSTRACT

A unilateral claim from China is in the form of dots or 9 dotted ‘Nine-dash line' which forms the letter ‘U' intersects with Indonesia Exclusive Economic Zone. Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs of Indonesia, has issued the latest 2017 Map of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia. The 2017 NKRI Map is the proposed naming of the sea space, which was previously known as part of the South China Sea (SCS), to the North Natuna Sea. Therefore, this study aims to: (1) analyse how the legality of the sovereign rights of the Republic of Indonesia in the North Natuna Sea-based United Nations Convention on the law the Sea 1982; and (2) analyse how the Indonesian government responds in the North Natuna Sea. This research uses normative research methods. The results show that based on UNCLOS 1982, Indonesia has the legality to exercise sovereign rights in the North Natuna Sea. The Republic of Indonesia confirms that there is no dispute with China in the North Natuna Sea because China’s claims are not legal or not based on United Nations Convention on the law the Sea 1982.

Acknowledgements

This research would not have been possible without the support from any parties. We are grateful for Damos Damoli Agusman from Ministry of foreign affairs who gift us an explanation about natuna sea status. We are also grateful for Indonesia's minister of security and defense, Prabowo Subianto who gift us an explanation about what Indonesia must to do.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Kementerian Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan

Notes on contributors

Belardo Prasetya Mega Jaya

Belardo Prasetya Mega Jaya is a lecturer in International Law Department, Law Faculty, University of Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa. He is the member of Indonesian Society of International Law Lecturers (ISILL). He has many publications in national and international journals. Some of his publications in 2022 −2023 are: 1. Refusal Of Un Peacekeeping Missions For Security Missions In Conflict Countries As A Violation Of International Law (Russian Law Journal). 2. Legal Force of Judicial Decree on Extradition Case (Journal of Positive School Psychology, Turkey); 3. Marine Pollution by State-Owned Companies in Offshore Areas Reviewed Based on the 1982 UNCLOS (Case Study: Oil Spill by PT Pertamina in Offshore Area of North Karawang) (Jurnal Dinamika Hukum). 4. Method and Principle of Maritime Boundary Delimitation between Indonesia and Timor-Leste (Diplev); 5. The Implementation of General Principles of UNCRC During Covid-19 Pandemic in The City of Serang (Sinta 2- Law Reform); 6. The Effectiveness of WHO in Overcoming the Covid 19 Pandemic in the Perspective of International Law (Pena Justisia); He also won the international article competition that held by I-WIN Library, Centre for Policy Research and International Studies (CenPRIS), Universiti Sains Malaysia in 2021 and 2022.