Indonesia drove Chinese ship out of disputed waters. Is Beijing ‘testing’ Jakarta’s resolve?

Indonesia’s coastguard has escorted out a Chinese counterpart vessel that “disrupted” oil and gas exploration activity in the North Natuna Sea, an incident that observers warn is Beijing’s way of testing the resolve of the new Jakarta government.

The Maritime Security Agency, or Bakamla, said on Monday it had escorted out China Coast Guard 5402 ship (CCG 5402) that had “disrupted seismic survey and data processing activities being carried out by [state-owned oil firm] PT Pertamina East Natuna using the MV Geo Coral vessel”.

According to SeaLight, a research firm that monitors illegal incursions by Chinese ships into other countries’ waters, the CCG 5402 arrived in the North Natuna Sea on October 19 to “relieve” another Chinese vessel CCG5302.

SeaLight director Ray Powell in a statement on Tuesday said data showed the “harassment of Indonesia’s survey activity began on October 17 with the arrival of CCG 5302 into the area, prompting the deployment of the [Bakamla’s patrol vessel] Tanjung Datu 301 from the port of Batu Ambar the next morning”.

In a video released by Bakamla, an Indonesian crew member can be seen trying to communicate with CCG 5402 via radio. In response, the Chinese vessel claimed that the area was part of “China’s jurisdiction and sovereign rights”.