DETERMINATION OF THE NORTH NATUNA SEA BOUNDARY

• Main Author: Zahrah, Syafira
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/39016
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Based on the 1982 United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), The sovereignty of an archipelagic State extends to the waters enclosed by the archipelagic baselines, described as archipelagic waters, regardless of their depth. In addition to sovereignty in the area, Indonesia also has sovereignty in the outer sea from the baseline which borders the sea of other countries. Sovereignty is the highest authority over the government of the country, region and so on (KBBI). Because of that basis, Indonesia has the right and obligation to establish basepoints that will become baselines on the map. This baseline will separate archipelagic water with a zone outside the baseline. From this baseline, sea boundaries will become the sovereignty of the State of Indonesia. On July 14, 2017, Indonesia exercised its rights and obligations in establishing the North Natuna Sea on the 2017 edition of the NKRI Map to affirm Indonesia's rejection of China's claim to nine-dash lines. The motive for making Indonesia want to change the name of the waters has long been planned and culminates when Chinese fishing vessels violate the boundaries of North Natuna waters and are captured by Indonesian patrol boats. Indonesia needs to take a firm stand against sovereignty over the jurisdiction of its territorial sea by naming the waters into the North Natuna Sea. The decisive action that needs to be taken is to establish the boundaries of the North Natuna Sea so that the boundaries of the North Natuna Sea have clear boundaries, and as soon as possible are ratified by the bordering country so that the boundaries of the North Natuna Sea have legal aspects. The method used in the determination of the North Natuna Sea boundary is the graphical (cartometric) method. Graphic methods (cartometrics) are tracing or drawing boundaries on work maps and measuring point and distance positions using basic maps or other maps as a compliment. The rules for determining the boundary line refer to UNCLOS 1982. Then the data used for marking the basepoint and baseline refers to Government Regulation number 38 of 2002 with reference to the mean low water springs (MLWS) vertical datum. Then for the boundary setting method in the overlapping area, it is determined by the principle of equidistance or equal distance. Even though it has adhered to the principle of equidistance, this boundary line must still be agreed upon by 3 bordering countries, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam. The results of this study are the North Natuna Sea boundary map which confirms the North Natuna Sea sovereignty over the South China Sea, equipped with a North Natuna Sea Sovereignty Geographic Coordinate list table. This research can be an alternative for input and consideration for the central government in the process of negotiating the North Natuna Sea sovereignty boundaries with countries with adjacent seas, Malaysia and Vietnam.