Jakarta, IO – Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi commented on the news of China’s release of a map which includes claims to parts of the maritime area of Malaysia’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) near Sabah and Sarawak, Brunei, the Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam.
Retno said Indonesia’s position is consistent with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) ratified in 1982.
“Indonesia’s position is not a new position, but a position that has always been conveyed consistently, namely that any line drawn, any claim made must comply with the 1982 UNCLOS,” Retno said, per Detikcom, Thursday (31/8).
UNCLOS is an international agreement that governs the rights and obligations of each country regarding territorial water boundaries, including exclusive economic zones, where countries with coastlines have the right to explore and exploit their maritime resources, including energy.
UNCLOS states that several water areas owned by each coastal state, including Indonesia, include inland waters, territorial seas, additional zones, exclusive economic zones (EEZ), continental shelves and high seas.
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It was reported that India has protested against the map released by the Chinese government, Monday (28/8). The map drawn by China’s Ministry of Natural Resources also includes the disputed northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh and the Aksai Chin plateau.
“We have today lodged a strong protest through diplomatic channels with the Chinese side regarding China’s so-called 2023 standard map claiming Indian territory,” Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said in a statement. (rr)