Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — A Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessel, identified as CCG 5402, was once again spotted entering Indonesia’s maritime jurisdiction in the North Natuna Sea on Thursday morning October 24. The vessel disrupted ongoing seismic survey operations conducted by PT Pertamina East Natuna using the survey ship MV Geo Coral.
In response, Indonesia’s Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla) swiftly deployed resources after receiving reports of the incursion.
“Upon receiving information about the presence of CCG 5402, we dispatched the patrol vessel KN Pulau Dana-323 to intercept,” said Bakamla’s Director of Sea Operations, Rear Admiral Octavianus Budi Susanto, in a statement on Thursday morning.
Octavianus noted that despite attempts to communicate with the Chinese vessel, no response was received. Instead, CCG 5402 approached and interfered with the MV Geo Coral’s survey activities.
As a result, KN Pulau Dana-323 was tasked with expelling the Chinese Coast Guard ship from Indonesia’s continental shelf to prevent further disruption of the seismic survey.
“The expulsion of the CCG vessel from Indonesia’s continental shelf in the North Natuna Sea is a clear demonstration of Bakamla’s commitment to maintaining maritime security through active patrols,” Octavianus emphasized.
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This incident marks the second time in a week that Bakamla has expelled a Chinese Coast Guard vessel from the area. Earlier on Monday (October 21), the patrol ship KN Tanjung Datu-301 was involved in a similar operation to remove CCG 5402 from the North Natuna Sea.
As in the recent case, the Chinese vessel disrupted survey work being conducted by Indonesia’s state-owned oil and gas company, PT Pertamina. According to Bakamla, in radio communication with the the vessel, Chinese Coast Guard insisted that the area was part of its jurisdiction. China insists that almost the entire South China Sea marked by the so-called “nine-dash line” is within its territory.
To counter the Chinese Coast Guard’s presence, the KN Tanjung Datu received reinforcement from the Indonesian Navy’s patrol vessel, KRI Sutedi Senaputera 378, and Bakamla’s Maritime Air Patrol.
Together, the Indonesian vessels conducted a shadowing operation and successfully forced CCG 5402 to exit Indonesia’s jurisdiction in the North Natuna Sea.
The repeated incursions by Chinese vessels into Indonesia’s maritime territory in the North Natuna Sea underscore the ongoing tensions in the region over territorial claims. Despite China’s assertions, Indonesia remains firm in its commitment to safeguarding its sovereignty and ensuring the security of its waters through coordinated maritime patrols and defense measures.
(Raidi/Agung)
