Posted on 01/06/2020 7:42:35 PM PST by SeekAndFind
Indonesia will mobilise fishermen to join warships in the South China Sea to help defend against Chinese vessels, the government said on Monday, as the biggest stand-off with China for years escalated off Southeast Asia’s largest country.
In an unusually strong statement, President Joko Widodo told reporters: “There is no negotiation when it comes to our sovereignty.”
The stand-off since last month in the northern Natuna islands, where a Chinese coastguard vessel has accompanied Chinese fishing vessels, has soured the generally friendly relationship between Jakarta and Beijing.
Indonesia’s chief security minister, Mahfud MD, told reporters that around 120 fishermen from the island of Java would be sent to the Natuna islands, some 1,000km (600 miles) to the north.
“We want to mobilise our fishermen from the north coast and maybe in turn from other areas to operate by fishing there and other things,” Mahfud said.
Indonesia, the world’s fourth most populous country, said last week it was sending more warships to the area. Six Indonesian ships were there now and four more were on the way, Imam Hidayat, the head of the Maritime Security Agency’s sea operations sub-directorate, told Reuters.
China claims much of the South China Sea, a global trade route with rich fishing grounds and energy reserves, as its own based on what it says its historic activity.
But Southeast Asian countries – and the United States and much of the world – say such claims have no legal basis.
Indonesian vessels often confront Chinese fishermen off the Natuna islands, but the presence of the Chinese coastguard vessel has marked an escalation this year over which Indonesia summoned the Chinese ambassador.
Last year, China engaged in a prolonged maritime stand-off in Vietnam’s extended economic zone and jangled nerves with its naval presence off the Philippines and Malaysia.
(Excerpt) Read more at scmp.com ...
I’d like to be an Indonesian fisherman just for the awesome pick-up lines like, “wanna see my junk”
This is basically David vs Goliath, from a defense spending perspective. Indonesia spends $8b vs China’s $250b. Jakarta is doing the equivalent of flexing its beer muscles.
“Operate by fishing there”
Nothing scarier than Indonesians casting lures.
“Full astern! They’ve got some Mepps lures!”
Who are Indonesia’s allies? Who can they absolutely count on for help? There is no way she can take on China themselves. Although ... iirc, an Indonesian emperor, Radan Wijaya, beat the emisaries of Ghengis Khan. That was back in the days of the Majapahit Empire.
This could get interesting as a Muslim/Infidel conflict ,and China has been locking up, and brainwashing it’s Muslim population. - Tom
Indonesia has a decent little littoral navy.
Modern Corvettes and Missile Boats. A few Frigates and about 8 DE subs from Germany and SK.
They could cause pain in their own waters.
,,, North Korea is the only Asian country that trusts China. The South China Sea is an area where there’s many irons in the fire and it’s not China’s fire. Time to see if we can all manage without Chinese goods and buy more from Vietnam, South Korea and everywhere else rather than China. All those nations have an interest in getting this sorted quickly and decisively. Malaysia has been vocal lately. Its good to hear Indonesia is thumping the table now.
Indonesia also has enough of an Air Force to cause some trouble in local confrontations.
If Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, etc., formed a solid mutual defense pact, they could give China some real headaches.
[All those nations have an interest in getting this sorted quickly and decisively. Malaysia has been vocal lately. Its good to hear Indonesia is thumping the table now.]
“If Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, etc., formed a solid mutual defense pact, they could give China some real headaches.”
Add Japan and Taiwan to that mix of countries under direct pressure. And that would keep China busy for years.
Agreed.
But if I was on a fishing boat and was asked to join the fleet, all you’d hear the other fishermen saying is..
“Where’s DP0622??? He was in the boat a second ago?? There he is!! You’ll never make it back to land!!”
:)
Indonesian: Balls.
DU30: not so much.
Red China was always perceived as strong because of its massive population - but it is held in check by neighbors with large populations as well. India is most notable, but Indonesia is the largest Muslim country in the world, with 1/4 of China’s population. They are too big to ignore.
The island of Java has a larger population (145 million) than the largest country (Russia, 144 million) in the world. Hard to believe that many people can live on the island. They manage with two monsoons each year.
They’ll owe the US? Why not get them to pay the bill as they go? Vietnam and Iraq worked well for the defense contracting corporations but the fiscal debt is on the US taxpayer. No chance of getting that money back and the US owes trillions.
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