Sikap China di Natuna Membuat Tantangan bagi Diplomasi Pertahanan RI-China

China’s Defense Diplomacy in Southeast Asia: Navigating Challenges and Opportunities

Dual-Edged Sword Diplomacy

• Objective: China appears to seek closer cooperation with Southeast Asian nations while simultaneously asserting claims over most of the South China Sea (SCS) and displaying aggression in the region.

• Key Points:

• Despite reaching out diplomatically, China maintains assertive actions in the South China Sea, including incursions into Indonesia’s Exclusive Economic Zone near the Natuna Islands (renamed North Natuna Sea).

• The complex nature of China’s defense diplomacy was discussed in a seminar titled “China’s Defense Diplomacy in Southeast Asia: Opportunities and Challenges for Indonesia.” The event was organized by the Maritime Security Study Program, Faculty of National Defense (FKN) at the Republic of Indonesia Defense University, along with the Indonesian Sinology Forum (FSI) and the Indonesian Maritime Security Initiative (Indomasive) on October 31, 2024, in Jakarta.

Insights from the Seminar

• Speakers:

• Moderator: Dr. Johanes Herlijanto, Chairman of FSI.

• Main Speakers:

• Retired Indonesian Navy Rear Admiral Ir. Budiman Djoko Said, M.M, former Commander of the Naval Command and Staff College (Seskoal) and current faculty member at FKN Unhan RI and lecturer at the University of Indonesia.

• Ristian Atriandi Supriyanto, M.Sc, an International Relations lecturer at the University of Indonesia.

• Opening Remarks: Major General Pujo Widodo, Dean of FKN Unhan RI, emphasized the importance of understanding China’s defense diplomacy amid the US-China competition in Southeast Asia.

• Indonesia’s Stand:

• Indonesia advocates for ASEAN unity and proposed a Code of Conduct to restrain China from encroaching on the continental shelves of Southeast Asian nations. However, ASEAN cohesion remains a challenge in the face of China’s assertiveness.

• China’s Strategy:

• Speaker Budiman highlighted China’s gradual encroachment and maritime expansion under President Xi Jinping, stressing the need for Indonesia to bolster its maritime capabilities to protect its interests.

Indonesian Strategies

• Key Points:

• Indonesia’s defense strategy, led by the Ministry of Defense, aims to counter external pressures and safeguard sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national security.

• Emphasis on the role of maritime power in diplomacy, with a warning that diplomacy without maritime strength may be ineffective.

Diplomatic Challenges and Recommendations

• Indonesia-China Relations:

• Indonesia embraces defense diplomacy with China to foster communication and trust, aiming to reduce maritime tensions and showcase Indonesia’s non-aligned stance.

• Concerns:

• Challenges include China’s aggressive actions near Natuna despite defense diplomacy efforts, raising fears of intelligence gathering by China.

• Balancing Act:

• While engaging with China, Indonesia reiterates its commitment to international law, especially the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), to resolve maritime conflicts.

• Stability and Regional Centrality:

• Indonesian defense authorities stress the importance of defense diplomacy as a signal of stability, reiterating ASEAN’s centrality and sovereignty in the South China Sea disputes and around Natuna.

The seminar underscored the need for Indonesia to navigate carefully through China’s dual approach, balancing cooperation opportunities with the imperative to protect national interests and regional stability.