REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, NATUNA - China included part of Natuna waters in Indonesia's Riau Islands province on its territorial map, assistant deputy to the chief security minister for defense strategic doctrine Commodore Fahru Zaini stated.
"China has claimed Natuna waters as their territorial waters. This arbitrary claim is related to the dispute over Spratly and Paracel Islands between China and the Philippines. This dispute will have a large impact on the security of Natuna waters," he noted on Wednesday.
China had drawn the sea map of Natuna Islands in the South China Sea on its territorial map with nine dash lines, he pointed out. The new map had even been included in the new passports of Chinese citizens, he explained.
"What China has done is related to the territorial zone of the Unitary Republic of Indonesia. Therefore, we have come to Natuna to see the concrete strategy of the main component of our defense, namely the National Defense Forces (TNI)," he explained.
Not only Indonesia but also other countries bordering the South China Sea such as Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, the Philippines and Taiwan had part of their territory included in the Chinese map, he elaborated.
"But China is not transparent about the coordinates included in their territory," he stated.
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