Indonesia arms maritime force to deter Chinese, Vietnamese fishing vessels from entering Natuna seas

Civilian patrol vessels have been outfitted with machine guns in move seen as delicate balancing act in relations with Beijing

The weaponry is meant to deter incursions by foreign fishing vessels and prevent an escalation of tensions with China, analysts said

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A Bakamla ship newly outfitted with machine guns. Photo: Bakamla

Published: 3:00pm, 10 Jan 2021Updated: 10:54pm, 10 Jan 2021

Indonesia’s civilian maritime force ended 2020 by arming its vessels with machine guns amid continuing incursions by Chinese and Vietnamese fishing boats near Indonesia’s exclusive economic zone around its northern Natuna Islands.

The move to equip the force, Bakamla, is seen as a delicate balancing act by Indonesia to deal with Chinese incursions without jeopardising growing bilateral ties with Beijing and at the same time defuse potential domestic anger over China’s encroachments, say analysts.

Over the past decade, China has emerged as Indonesia’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching US$79.4 billion in 2019 – a tenfold increase over 2000. Indonesia is also dependent on China for its Covid-19 vaccine, with 1.2 million doses of China’s Sinovac jabs having arrived in the country on December 6.

The decision also comes amid mounting tensions in the South China Sea, which is claimed by China and other countries. Indonesia does not consider itself a party to the South China Sea dispute, but Beijing claims historic rights to areas around the Natuna Islands.

In September, a Chinese coastguard ship spent two days in Indonesia’s exclusive economic zone, prompting Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry to lodge a protest with Beijing.

Indonesia’s Defence Ministry last June authorised Bakamla to procure weapons, and its ships were fitted with 30mm remote-controlled Stabilised Naval Gun Systems last month, Bakamla spokesman Colonel Wisnu Pramandita told This Week in Asia.

“Permission was granted as we are an enforcement agency that has to face the risk of dealing with violators of the law who are very likely to be armed,” said Wisnu, adding that the weapons on the Bakamla vessels were for self-defence.

Indonesia arms maritime force to deter Chinese, Vietnamese fishing vessels from entering Natuna seas

Civilian patrol vessels have been outfitted with machine guns in move seen as delicate balancing act in relations with Beijing The weaponry is meant to deter incursions by foreign fishing vessels and prevent an escalation of tensions with China, analysts said

Civilian patrol vessels have been outfitted with machine guns in move seen as delicate balancing act in relations with Beijing

The weaponry is meant to deter incursions by foreign fishing vessels and prevent an escalation of tensions with China, analysts said