Indonesia has yet to decide on any joint development areas with China in the South China Sea, its foreign minister said on Monday, seeking to allay concerns that a recent agreement with Beijing could compromise its sovereignty.
Indonesia caused a stir last month when it issued a joint statement with China pledging to develop projects “in the overlapping waters claimed by the two countries”, in what was widely interpreted as rare recognition of China’s sweeping territorial claim in the South China Sea.
China stakes its claim to sovereignty over about 90 per cent of the waterway via a U-shaped nine-dash line on its maps that includes parts of the exclusive economic zones (EEZ) of its neighbours, which have refused to recognise the claim.
An international tribunal in 2016 concluded the claim had no legal basis. China refuses to recognise that.
Indonesia Foreign Minister Sugiono, who goes by one name, on Monday reiterated to lawmakers that Jakarta still does not recognise the Chinese claim and would make decisions in its national interests.
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