In early January 2020, Indonesia deployed four air force fighter jets to the South China Sea in response to an apparent incursion by Chinese ships into its exclusive economic zone. The Chinese ships, including a coast guard vessel and several fishing ships, were sailing off the coast of Indonesia’s northern islands, in waters considered by Indonesia and much of the world to be Indonesian territory but which China claims as its own.
China claims sovereignty over a large swath of the South China Sea based on its historical activity in the area. These claims are disputed by many Southeast Asian countries and have led to disagreements in the past, including a recent stand-off between Vietnam and China over an offshore oil block in disputed waters. Indonesian officials maintain that they are merely protecting their sovereign territory and have no orders to engage Chinese ships.
China and Indonesia have stated that they wish to resolve the conflict through diplomatic channels. No agreement, however, has thus far been struck, and Indonesian officials, despite their recognition of China as Indonesia’s largest trading partner, have continued to state their commitment to protecting Indonesian sovereignty.
