INDONESIA'S ROLE AS A LEADER OF ASEAN

SETTLEMENT OF THE SOUTH CHINA SEA CONFLICT

Latest Conditions of the South China Sea Conflict

The conflict in the South China Sea region is heating up again. This occurred as a result
of an incident between a Chinese sea guard ship and a sea guard ship from the Philippines.
This incident occurred on Tuesday, March 5 2024, which caused damage to the Philippine sea
guard ship. Reporting from AFP, a statement from the commodore of the Philippine Maritime
Guard (Jay Tarriela) provided an explanation regarding the incident via social media. It was
said that the Chinese sea guard ship carried out a quite dangerous maneuver with the aim of
blocking the movement of the Philippine sea guard ship. This then triggered a collision
between the two ships.

Source: tribunnewswiki.com

The conflict in the South China Sea has not yet come to a conclusion. This is made
clear by the government of the People's Republic of China (PRC) which continues to block
fishing vessels fishing in the South China Sea region. This then received strong protests from
the Philippines. China's claim to the South China Sea has been rejected by the International
Court of Arbitration or Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), this is based on the absence of
an international legal basis for the claim. However, the PRC government rejected the
decision, assuming that the decision made was invalid and violated UNCLOS 1982, namely
the UN convention regarding the law of the sea. The claim for most of the South China Sea
region was clarified again by the Chinese government, where the Chinese government
displayed the latest map of the disputed area of the South China Sea, which was originally
nine dash lines ( Nine Dash Line ) to 10 dash lines, where the territorial claim increased to
include the territory of Taiwan. . The presentation of the new map by the Chinese government
sparked a feud between ASEAN countries.

Figure 1. Latest Ten Dash Line Map of China

Source : globalnation.inquirer.net

So why does China make claims to the South China Sea region? Why is the South
China Sea so defended by China with claims like this? So how does it affect the sovereignty
of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia?
The Beginning of the Conflict

The conflict that occurred in the South China Sea region is a protracted conflict that is
still ongoing and increasingly heated to this day. Since 1953, the Chinese government has
made a claim to this region with the Nine Dash Line, which covers almost the entire South
China Sea area and intersects with the maritime territories of other countries such as the
Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, and Indonesia, where the claim extends
into the Indonesian Exclusive Economic Zone (ZEEI). This claim made by the Chinese
government is based on their historical reasons which are not in accordance with applicable
international law.

Apart from the incident of Filipino and Chinese ships colliding, there was also an
incident of the capture of a Chinese fishing boat by the Indonesian Ministry of Maritime
Affairs and Fisheries which occurred in the Natuna Sea. This is because Chinese fishing boats
entered Indonesian maritime territory. However, this incident was opposed by the Chinese
government, which argued that the arrest should not have occurred because the fishing boat
was still in China's traditional fishing zone . The concept is not considered by the UN
convention relating to the International Law of the Sea 1982 (UNCLOS). This concept is
regulated in UNCLOS article 51 as Traditional Fishing Right , where this concept must be
based on a bilateral agreement between the two countries.

China's claim to the South China Sea region includes what is referred to as the nine
dash line , until now the Chinese side has not explained what their basis for doing this is.
Apart from that, this unilateral claim also has not yet reached an agreement between the
countries involved in the region. Things like this must be given special attention to be
resolved quickly so that there is no conflict that gets bigger and never ends.
 Figure 2. Nine Dash Line Map of China

Source: bernuanta.co.id

Reasons the South China Sea is Contested

There are still many questions about why countries such as China, Taiwan, the
Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam are fighting over the South China Sea
and the land of the two Paracel and Spratly island groups. Some of the reasons why this
struggle occurs are:

1. The South China Sea region holds many natural resources.

This water area stretching from Singapore and its surroundings and the Strait of Malacca
in the southwest to the Taiwan Strait in the northeast holds great natural resource
potential. This has resulted in several countries fighting over territory in the Spratly and
Paracel Island chain. According to Rystad, resource reserves in the South China Sea
region contain around 3.6 billion barrels of petroleum and other liquids and 40.3 trillion
cubic feet of natural gas. These resources are only estimated in the part of the waters that
have been explored, namely near the coastline. Meanwhile, other water areas still cannot
be explored due to this dispute.

Table 1. South China Sea Resource Reserve Data by Country, 2023

 Proven Stored Reserves of Proved Stored Natural Gas
Country Petroleum and Other Reserves (Trillions of
Liquids (Million Barrels) Cubic Feet)
Indonesia 44 1.1
Philippines 17 0.4
Malaysia 1,284 28.9
Brunei Darussalam 299 1.9
China 1,423 5.7
Vietnamese 530 2.3
Total 3,596 40.3
Source : Rystad Energy, CubeBrowser

Apart from proven resource reserves, according to a geological survey conducted by the
US (USGS) in 2023, areas that have not yet been explored are estimated to have the
potential for conventional oil and natural gas fields. The activities carried out by the
USGS cover 13 basins, platforms in the South China Sea region, and the Palawan Shelf
in the South China Sea. It is estimated that these areas contain between 2.4 billion barrels
and 9.2 billion barrels of petroleum and other liquids. Then there is also around 62 to 216
trillion cubic feet of natural gas.

Figure 3. Map of Petroleum and Natural Gas in the South China Sea

Source: US Energy Information Administration

2. The South China Sea area is a crossing route for international ship shipping activities,
especially sea routes which connect European, American and Asian trade routes. The
South China Sea waters are an important route for world trade activities. According to
the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), in 2023, 10 billion barrels of
petroleum and petroleum products and 6.7 trillion cubic feet of liquefied natural gas will
pass through the waters of the South China Sea.

Figure 4 . Map of China and the South China Sea

Source: Tribunnews.com

3. Rapid population and economic growth is occurring in Asian countries

Population growth in Asian countries and world economic growth cannot be denied that
they are increasing very rapidly. Of course, this cannot be separated from the increasing
need for natural resources to meet the needs of the population and increase the economic
value of a country. This then pushed these countries into conflict over their territory in
the South China Sea. Economic growth in the Asian region is increasing, which is
driving energy demand in Asian countries. Liquid fuel consumption in the Asia-Pacific
Region will increase by 1.1% in 2022 and contribute 36% of total world income. It is
then projected that the growth in demand for petroleum will increase by 1.3% per year
and will reach 43% of total consumption in the world by 2050. The same thing is also
 projected for the need for natural gas which will also increase by 1,000. 6% per year and
will reach 28% in 2050.

Several of these reasons then encourage countries to scramble to defend territorial

waters in the South China Sea region. The need to fulfill requests from each country will
always be the main reason in the struggle for the South China Sea region. Then what about
Indonesia? Will Indonesia just remain silent with a real threat like this?
China's territorial claims are approaching Indonesia's Exclusive Economic Zone. This
will of course have an influence on the rights of Indonesian citizens to fulfill their needs from
the sea. For example, Indonesian fishermen will certainly be worried if they sail too far in
their waters. This will also provide an opportunity for other countries to extract as many
resources as possible that Indonesia should have. With such a real threat, Indonesia cannot
just remain silent. As one of the founding countries of ASEAN, Indonesia has the right and an
important role in resolving this conflict. Indonesia must always be alert to this real threat.
ASEAN and China have previously taken many steps to resolve this problem. For example,
significant steps were taken in 2002, namely by signing the Declaration of Conduct of the
Parties ( DoC). This declaration is a non-binding agreement that outlines the principles of
peaceful resolution of disputes in the South China Sea. Apart from the DoC, there is also the
formulation of code of conduct (CoC ) guidelines, namely legally binding regulations to
avoid conflicts between disputing countries. The two steps that have been taken are correct,
however, in terms of their implementation, there are still many disputes.
 Source: setkab.go.id
As neighboring countries, it is appropriate for leaders in each country to establish good
relations and respect each other. Indonesia must be able to become a mediator for countries in
dispute. Indonesia can apply the Natalegawa or Dynamic Equilibrium doctrine. This doctrine
contains information about Indonesia's position as a mediator country that prioritizes
resolving conflicts through negotiations. This doctrine will certainly encourage DoC and
CoC, where agreements that have been made previously will be re-enforced and
implemented. Implementation of the Natalegawa Doctrine will prioritize reducing suspicion
between countries, preventing incidents between countries, and managing incidents when
they occur. Indonesia can encourage ASEAN countries to utilize ASEAN and the UN as
platforms for dialogue between leaders of countries in dispute. Re-strengthening international
law (UNCLOS) as the main foundation in resolving this conflict. Apart from that, good
relations between countries that can be achieved through bilateral diplomacy must be carried
out frequently. This will slowly build a sense of trust and mutual respect between state
leaders so that with respect for a state's rights, tensions in this conflict will slowly decrease.
The abundant resources in the South China Sea region are certainly a major factor in
the lack of trust between state leaders. With this, Indonesia can also invite related countries to
cooperate with each other in managing these resources. New agreements must be remade and
must be enforced collectively. The cooperation carried out in managing these resources can
then have a good impact on all related countries so that there are no disputes between the
results obtained. Apart from collaborating in managing, related countries can also invite
countries outside the region to participate in investing in managing these resources. This will
provide income which can then be felt by the countries in conflict, provided that cooperation
agreements and good relations and mutual respect between state leaders must be maintained.
Bilateral relations must be strengthened. Meetings between state leaders do not only occur
during certain meetings, but meetings between individual states must be held frequently with
the aim of creating respect between the countries.
Apart from being a mediator in resolving the conflict through bilateral relations and
agreements, Indonesia must not be careless in its defense. Strengthening of war defense
equipment, especially for the water sector, must be strengthened. The addition of TNI troops
must be increased. The National Defense Program must be enforced by all components of
Indonesian society. Strengthening the defense sector, especially in the North Natuna sea area,
must be added. New innovations from more sophisticated defense equipment must also be
improved. Indonesia cannot be inferior to other countries' defense equipment. The
construction of TNI bases near the South China Sea, especially in the North Natuna Sea, must
be increased. With all the defense components that have been prepared, Indonesia must also
always be alert to threats that could occur at any time from these countries.
In conclusion, the conflict, which is still a big problem in the South China Sea region,
will have a big influence on the world. War should always be avoided. Peaceful resolution of
problems must always be prioritized. Respect between state leaders must always be
prioritized and maintained. There will of course be a feeling of wanting to control a region by
a country. This is encouraged because there are more benefits that will be obtained if you can
control the area. However, respecting the rights of each country must always be prioritized to
maintain peace between countries in the world.