Indonesia is calling for stronger ASEAN maritime cooperation, urging regional unity to safeguard trade routes, fisheries, and freedom of navigation amid rising tensions with China in the South China Sea. At the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta reaffirmed that maritime stability is not just a security issue: it’s vital for the region’s survival.
Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi told ASEAN counterparts that “stability at sea requires both dialogue and deterrence,” a phrase that captures Indonesia’s steady but firm approach. Her remarks followed reports of Chinese vessels pushing into disputed waters and shadowing Philippine resupply missions near Second Thomas Shoal, a site well inside Manila’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
Indonesia’s balancing act
Indonesia is not a formal claimant in the South China Sea disputes, yet its North Natuna Sea frequently sees Chinese vessels asserting “traditional fishing rights.” The Prabowo administration has since stepped up naval patrols while urging partners to treat ASEAN maritime cooperation as the main line of defense; a collective rather than country-by-country response.
Jakarta also hosts ongoing negotiations for the long-awaited Code of Conduct (CoC) between ASEAN and China, meant to lower the risk of confrontation at sea. Progress is slow, but diplomats say consistent engagement is the only path to prevent “accidents and miscalculations.”
Expanding ASEAN maritime cooperation
Through the ASEAN Maritime Forum (AMF) and the ASEAN Maritime Outlook 2025, Indonesia promotes coordination in disaster relief, fisheries management, and maritime domain awareness. It remains an active partner in trilateral patrols with Malaysia and the Philippines in the Sulu and Celebes Seas—joint efforts credited with curbing piracy and smuggling.
Jakarta also ties maritime cooperation to its blue economy vision, focusing on sustainable fishing and cleaner ports. The Komodo naval exercise 2025 in Labuan Bajo gathered ships from more than 30 nations, reinforcing that regional security can coexist with humanitarian goals.
Responding to China’s new coast guard rules
Concerns grew in mid-2025 when China’s new coast guard regulations authorized the detention of foreign ships in areas it claims under its “nine-dash line” — a claim overlapping the EEZs of the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei, and rejected by international law. Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry warned that such actions threaten freedom of navigation and undermine UNCLOS principles.
Beyond the South China Sea, Beijing’s military drills encircling Taiwan have added to regional unease. Analysts note that while Indonesia maintains economic ties with China, it continues to reject any maritime claims that infringe upon neighboring states’ sovereignty or its own Natuna EEZ.
Why it matters
For Jakarta, ASEAN maritime cooperation is not only about defense: it’s about protecting the rules that keep the sea open to all. As Retno Marsudi put it, “the sea must unite, not divide us.”
By combining patrols, data sharing, and shared operational rules, Indonesia hopes ASEAN can act as one maritime community—capable of keeping its waters lawful, secure, and free from coercion.
