What's happened
On October 24, 2024, Indonesia's Maritime Security Agency expelled a Chinese coast guard vessel disrupting seismic surveys by PT Pertamina in the North Natuna Sea. This incident highlights ongoing tensions over territorial claims in the resource-rich South China Sea, where both nations assert competing rights.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to the South China Morning Post, Indonesia's Bakamla reported that the Chinese coast guard vessel disrupted seismic surveys by PT Pertamina, prompting a strong response from Indonesian forces. The Chinese foreign ministry, however, maintained that the vessel was conducting routine patrols in waters it claims as its own. This contrasting narrative underscores the complexities of maritime sovereignty in the region. Business Insider UK highlighted the broader implications of these encounters, noting that the South China Sea is home to vast energy resources, which are increasingly contested by multiple nations. The Center for Strategic and International Studies has documented similar aggressive patrols by the Chinese coast guard near other Southeast Asian nations, indicating a pattern of behavior that could escalate tensions further.
How we got here
The South China Sea has long been a flashpoint for territorial disputes, with China claiming extensive rights through its nine-dash line. Indonesia, while not a claimant state, has faced increasing incursions into its exclusive economic zone, particularly in the North Natuna Sea, where it conducts oil and gas exploration.
More on these topics
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Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania, between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of more than seventeen thousand islands, including Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Sulawesi, and New Guinea. Indonesia i
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The South China Sea is a marginal sea of the Western Pacific Ocean. It is bounded in the north by the shores of South China, in the west by the Indochinese Peninsula, in the east by the islands of Taiwan and northwestern Philippines, and in the south by B
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China, officially the People's Republic of China, is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population of around 1.4 billion in 2019.
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Prabowo Subianto Djojohadikusumo is an Indonesian politician, businessman and former Army lieutenant General who is the currently-appointed Minister of Defence of the Republic of Indonesia.