Vietnam and Indonesia express concern about maritime security

It was all about economics in the words of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh during the opening session of the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia on May 10, 2023.

He urged the grouping of 10 members to follow a “self-sufficiency strategy, becoming an epicenter of growth and adapting better to external shocks”.

As usual, remembered “values, vitality and reputation”, the three essential factors in the conduct of ASEAN’s international relations, to “strengthen solidarity and unity” for an “independent and self-sufficient ASEAN”.

Premier Chinh stressed that ASEAN fast-track cooperation on “digital economy, digital government and circular economy in tandem with electricity connectivity and renewable energy development, soon establish long-term strategies on the formation of high quality staff. The purpose of highlighting the digital economy by Premier Chinh is driven by the belief that digital transformation can potentially bring a 1.1% annual increase in Vietnam’s GDP growth.

In addition, the country aspires to enter the top 50 countries in electronic administration and achieve that the digital economy represents 30% of the country’s GDP in 2030. At the regional level, Vietnam aspire to become in the Digital Hub of the Asia-Pacific region, and to be a “central point for data transfer and connectivity of telecommunications infrastructures in the region.”

It was also an occasion for Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Indonesian President Joko Widodo, his host, to discuss bilateral issues, including the 10th anniversary of their strategic partnership this year. Both leaders said they will work closely through established bilateral cooperation mechanisms and increase bilateral trade to US$15 billion or more by 2028 by improving market access.

At the strategic-regional level, both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to uphold the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and accelerate negotiations for an efficient and effective Code of Conduct (COC) in the East Sea (South China Sea) in accordance with international law , in particular the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). In fact, these themes are recurring in ASEAN declarations both multilaterally and bilaterally with China.

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The two leaders also discussed bilateral maritime security challenges. First, the need to create a hotline to monitor illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. It should be remembered that the two maritime neighbors signed the agreement on the EEZ in December 2022, after 12 years of intense talks. However, “Neither Indonesia nor Vietnam have published a clear explanation or chart of exactly where the border line begins and ends.” Consequently, Indonesian law enforcement agencies detained 136 Vietnamese fishing vessels in the North Natuna Sea.

Despite this, both leaders agreed that “the implementation agreement and ratification process must be completed soon” and that “the MoU on marine and fisheries matters must be resolved immediately”. It is widely accepted that the agreement “will reduce conflicts between Indonesian and Vietnamese fishing vessels.” Vietnam and Indonesia are Parties to the FAO Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA), a binding international agreement that explicitly focuses on IUU fishing and “establishes a minimum set of standard measures that the Parties must apply when foreign ships intend to enter their ports or while they are in them”.

The second deals with “sharing information on the application of the law at sea”. Shortly after Vietnam and Indonesia signed the EEZ agreement in December 2022, a Chinese ship was found sailing in the Tuna Bloc gas field in the Natuna Sea (with an investment of more than 3 billion dollars). . Indonesian security forces sent one of their vessels to the area. China’s so-called nine-line line covers some sea areas in Natuna waters.

He urged the grouping of 10 members to follow a “self-sufficiency strategy, becoming an epicenter of growth and adapting better to external shocks”.

Similarly, Chinese vessels have also been sighted in the Chim Sao oil and gas field in Vietnam. More recently, the Vietnamese Kiem Ngu 414 fisheries surveillance boat was harassed by Chinese coast guard vessel 4303 and Qiong Sansha Yu 309 militia boat near Vietnamese oil and gas fields.

Although illegal fishing in each other’s waters by respective fishermen is a bilateral issue between Vietnam and Indonesia and can be resolved through initiatives such as a hotline, both sides face aggressive Chinese “grey area” operations in their waters. The activity of the Chinese navy, coast guard and maritime militia in the South China Sea is a common concern, and even non-ASEAN countries that “promote maritime cooperation” with the aim of “increasing trust and friendship” may be the recipients of Chinese operations. For example, during the recent ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise (AIME-23), dubbed the “Flotilla Exercise,” a Chinese militia ship tried “disrupting the maritime exercise”, forcing defensive maneuvers in response to the Chinese action.

Disclaimer: The views expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the views of the Government of India and Defense Research and Studies.

Article republished within the framework of an agreement with Dras (Defense Research and studies) to share content. Link to the original article: https://dras.in/vietnam-and-indonesia-express-concern-over-maritime-security/

Dr. Vijay Sakhuja was a Director of the National Maritime Foundation of New Delhi, a Co-Founder and Trustee of the Peninsula Foundation, a Distinguished Fellow of the Center for Public Policy Research, and a Visiting and Principal Fellow of the Cambodian Institute for Cooperation and Peace. He is an Adjunct Professor at the School of Maritime and Air and Space Studies and Rashtriya Raksha University. He is also associated with the Kalinga International Foundation and the Indian Council of World Affairs. Dr. Sakhuja has served on the faculty of the Singapore Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Gujarat National Law University, and has been Director (Research) of the Indian Council of World Affairs, IDSA, ORF, USI and CAPS. A former Indian Army officer, Sakhuja specializes in Indo-Pacific affairs, 4th Industrial Revolution technologies, Arctic issues and the blue economy. He has published more than 40 books, edited volumes, and monographs.