Table of Contents
Aggression in SCS
- While most countries in the Indo-Pacific region are battling the coronavirus pandemic.
- China has been aggressive in the South China Sea
- Particularly against Indonesia and Vietnam.
- Such aggressive behavior, in the midst of a crisis is only likely to further antagonize China’s Indo-Pacific neighbours.
First Victim: Indonesia
- For several weeks, China has been hounding Indonesian fishing vessels in the Indonesian waters off the Natuna Islands.
- Chinese fishing fleets have been encroaching into areas that Indonesia considers exclusive.
- Indonesian fishermen are perturbed that the government in Jakarta is not doing anything to protect them.
- Ngesti Yuni Suprapti, the deputy regent of the Natuna archipelago, said, “There was a vacant period, then China came back. Our fishermen feel scared.
Indonesia is Scared
- Indonesia has not been keen to raise the issue through political or diplomatic channels with Beijing for fear of negative impact on the economic ties between the two countries.
- But that has not helped because Beijing now claims that these are China’s traditional fishing waters and lawful under UNCLOS.
Military of Indonesia isn’t Scared
- But while Indonesian diplomats may not feel the need to open any talks with Beijing on this issue, the military has a different take, saying that “China’s position is totally unacceptable and we should take concrete actions in the field.”
- The Joint Defense Area Command, said, “Around 30 foreign vessels are currently situated on the Natuna EEZ border”. He added that there are still four fighter jets on standby at the Natuna Air Base”.
Even the People of Indonesia are Angry
- “China can easily do it to smaller members of ASEAN, but not with us,’ was the common reaction of Indonesians on social media.” This was a reference to the Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, who made quite harsh statements regarding the rights of Chinese fishermen in the Indonesian EEZ.
Vietnam: Another Victim of China’s Aggression
- 03-April- China rammed into and sank a Vietnamese shipping boat with eight fishermen on board while they were out fishing in the Paracel Islands, which are controlled by China but also claimed by Vietnam. The spokesperson for Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the Chinese action “violates Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Paracel Islands .”
The statement further noted:
This is only “the latest in a long string of PRC actions to assert unlawful maritime claims in the South China Sea.”
Since the outbreak of the pandemic, China has announced the setting up of “new ‘research stations’ on military bases it built on Fiery Cross Reef and Subi Reef, in addition to the continuing deployment of maritime militia around the Spratly Islands.
- It would appear that China, in addition to mishandling both the coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan and its rather crass public relations efforts on the pandemic, is demonstrating further strategic tonedeafness in its actions toward its neighbors. In doing so, China is likely to shoot itself in the foot.
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