24 warships participate in challenge to Beijing’s ‘nine-dash line’ claims
JAKARTA – Indonesia’s naval force has led a four-day practice in the South China Sea, it said Friday, in what has all the earmarks of being a significant demonstration of power against Chinese cases to the waters.
Twenty-four warships took an interest in the activity that started Tuesday, including two rocket destroyers and four escort vessels. Land-based preparing was likewise joined.
A segment of the activity was organized close to Indonesia’s Natuna Islands. The fringes of the select financial zone around Natuna cover with the “nine-run line” map guaranteed by China.
“Indeed, even with the episode of the novel coronavirus, the military’s responsiveness has not been harmed,” Rear Adm. Ahmadi Heri Purwono said.
Chinese fishing vessels joined by Chinese-hailed government ships have over and again been found in the zone, raising the alert on the Indonesian side.
The activity expected to develop key abilities with an eye toward safeguarding Natuna.
In a May letter to United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Indonesia said it is “not bound” by the Chinese nine-run line guarantee, which “needs global lawful premise.” Follow-up letters in June saw Jakarta straight reject a proposal to arrange what Beijing called “covering claims.”
Indonesia isn’t a petitioner in the South China Sea contest — which includes China, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Vietnam — however when U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo issues an announcement dismissing China’s sea claims in the challenged waters, he explicitly referenced Natuna as being outside China’s locale.
