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Wendy Wu

The Chinese and Indonesian coastguards held their first senior-level talks this week on boosting maritime security cooperation.
The two sides discussed topics such as setting up regular meetings at all levels, port calls and capability build-up, the China Coast Guard said on Saturday.
“Both sides believe that it is necessary to further deepen pragmatic maritime cooperation, jointly maintain the order of maritime security and properly deal with maritime emergencies,” its statement said.
The talks took place in Beijing during a visit by Vice-Admiral Irvansyah, chief of the Indonesian Maritime Security Agency, that began on Tuesday and ended on Saturday and took place at China’s invitation.
“The meeting is not only a symbol of the close relations between both institutions but also a joint commitment to create a safe, peaceful and prosperous maritime region,” he said, according to the Indonesian coastguard.
The delegation also visited the headquarters of a coastguard unit in the southern city of Guangzhou and inspected operational facilities and a patrol vessel.
China has in recent years stepped up its efforts to engage with Indonesia on the economic and security fronts amid its growing strategic rivalry with the United States and rising tensions with the Philippines in the South China Sea.
Indonesia is not a claimant in the South China Sea but its claimed exclusive economic zone in the North Natuna Sea overlaps with China’s nine-dash line, which sets out its expansive claims in the South China Sea.


In recent years there have been a series of incidents involving ships from the two countries in the disputed waters, with Indonesia escorting a Chinese coastguard vessel away from the Nantua Islands three times in the space of a week just over two months ago.
On that occasion Indonesia accused the Chinese vessel of “disrupting” oil and gas exploration activity in its exclusive economic zone, but China said its ship was on patrol in waters that are under its jurisdiction.
The two countries held their first senior-level “2+2” military and diplomacy dialogues in August last year to build strategic mutual trust.
The two countries will hold a round of ministerial-level talks covering these areas this year and both sides have agreed to step up coastguard cooperation and conduct joint exploration in the areas claimed by both countries following November’s visit to China by President Prabowo Subianto.
Earlier this week Indonesia officially became a full member of Brics – a grouping whose initial core membership consisted of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – amid speculation the country will play a bigger role in the Global South.
Jakarta has also said it is open to talks on issues such as maritime security, sea routes and fisheries with other countries and is looking to forge defensive partnerships.
Foreign Minister Sugiono said on Friday that his country will continue to push to finalise a South China Sea code of conduct between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and China, according to Reuters.
Talks on the code, designed to reduce the risk of conflict in the disputed waters, have been going on for years, but progress has been slow despite Beijing’s repeated calls to step up the pace.
Meanwhile, Indonesia and Japan held a meeting on Saturday to expand security cooperation, with Tokyo agreeing to provide high-speed patrol boats to Jakarta, according to Reuters. The two countries also set up 2+2 dialogue mechanism in 2015.


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Chinese and Indonesian coastguards pledge deeper cooperation after first high-level talks

Coastguards from the two sides discussed a range of topics.  Photo: Weibo/ 中国海警

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News

China

Diplomacy

The two sides pledged support for joint maritime security efforts amid Beijing’s ongoing drive for closer ties with the Southeast Asian giant


The two sides pledged support for joint maritime security efforts amid Beijing’s ongoing drive for closer ties with the Southeast Asian giant.


China-Asean relations

Indonesia

Chinese and Indonesian coastguards pledge deeper cooperation after first high-level talks

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}The two sides pledged support for joint maritime security efforts amid Beijing’s ongoing drive for closer ties with the Southeast Asian giant

The two sides pledged support for joint maritime security efforts amid Beijing’s ongoing drive for closer ties with the Southeast Asian giant