SECURING BORDERS IN A TIME OF PANDEMIC: INDONESIA’S STRATEGY TO COUNTER CHINESE CLAIMS IN NATUNA

Abstract

China's claim to the South China Sea has a direct impact on China's relations with countries in the ASEAN region, including Indonesia. Indonesia is one of China's essential partners in the trade sector. However, the incidents of violations of Indonesian sea territories carried out by the Coast Guard and Chinese fishers in early January 2020 in the Natuna Waters invited a strong reaction from the Indonesian government. The Indonesian Foreign Minister summoned the Chinese ambassador to ask for an explanation as well as a form of protest. Previously, Indonesian President Joko Widodo also criticized the map of China that included Natuna Waters as part of its territory. The Indonesian President even specifically made a working visit to the Natuna island with an escort of the fleet of war as a
form of commitment to protecting Indonesian territory. Furthermore, when COVID-19 hit the world, including Indonesia, one of the strategies chosen by the Indonesian government was to make Natuna a place for quarantine of patients brought home from Wuhan. This research itself seeks to investigate issues related to Natuna's historical background, how the Indonesian government's strategy in counteracting Chinese claims against Natuna, as well as exploring Indonesian government's decision in making Natuna a place for quarantine of COVID-19 patients brought home from China.