Indonesia's Efforts to Maintain Economic Security Stability: China's Claim to the Natuna Sea

Abstract

The waters of the Natuna Sea are Indonesia's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) located in the Karimata Strait in the north of Indonesia. The Natuna Sea holds a wealth of biological resources with high value and importance, making China feel interested in being able to control the region. In addition to this, what makes China more interested is that the region has large natural gas and petroleum reserves. This study aims to find out how aggressive China is in controlling the Natuna Sea so that it can take stored natural resources and as knowledge about how the Indonesia government is trying to maintain Indonesia's economic security stability. The research method used in this study is descriptive qualitative research whose main sources come from books, journal articles, news articles and others. In this case, China still adheres to the idea of the Nine Dash Line which is pegged to history. However, legally Indonesia remains in the strongest position among the holders of this territory. So, to maintain national defense and maintain natural resources as the largest economic supplier in state development, the government must always carry out exploration and exploitation activities on biological resources in the waters of the Natuna Sea.