Batas Laut Pulau Kalimantan: Everything You Need to Know
Introduction
Batas Laut Pulau Kalimantan or the sea border of the island of Kalimantan is the maritime boundary between Indonesia and neighboring countries, namely Malaysia and the Philippines. It is an important issue in Indonesian foreign policy, especially in relation to territorial integrity and national sovereignty.
Over the years, there have been disputes over the sea border between Indonesia and its neighboring countries, particularly Malaysia. However, in 2014, Indonesia and Malaysia reached an agreement on the delimitation of the sea border, which was later ratified by the Indonesian parliament in 2017.
In this article, we will delve deeper into the Batas Laut Pulau Kalimantan, its history, legal basis, and its impact on Indonesia’s foreign policy. We will also answer some frequently asked questions about the sea border.
The History of Batas Laut Pulau Kalimantan
The issue of the sea border between Indonesia and Malaysia stems from the history of British colonization. The British claimed that the borders of their former colonies in Southeast Asia, including Malaya and Borneo (now Kalimantan), included the surrounding waters.
After the independence of Malaya in 1957, it continued to claim the sea border as its own. When Sabah joined Malaysia in 1963, Malaysia extended its sea border claims to include Sabah’s waters.
Indonesia did not recognize these claims and instead, asserted its own sovereignty over the waters around Kalimantan. This led to several incidents of naval clashes between Indonesia and Malaysia in the 1960s.
The issue was later addressed in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) adopted in 1982, which established a legal framework for the delimitation of maritime boundaries. However, the issue between Indonesia and Malaysia remained unresolved.
In 2009, Indonesia submitted a claim to the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) to extend its continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles in the northern part of the Sulawesi Sea, including the waters around the Natuna Islands and the waters surrounding Kalimantan. The claim was based on scientific studies that showed the area was part of Indonesia’s continental shelf.
The CLCS rejected parts of Indonesia’s claim in 2012, including the area around the Natuna Islands, but allowed Indonesia to extend its continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles in the overlapping claims area with Malaysia.
This decision paved the way for Indonesia and Malaysia to negotiate the delimitation of their overlapping maritime claims in the Sulawesi Sea and the waters around Kalimantan.
The Legal Basis of Batas Laut Pulau Kalimantan
The delimitation of the sea border between Indonesia and Malaysia is based on the principles of international law, specifically UNCLOS. UNCLOS provides a legal framework for the delimitation of maritime boundaries and the rights and responsibilities of coastal states.
UNCLOS recognizes that coastal states have a sovereign right to explore, exploit, conserve and manage the natural resources in the waters adjacent to their coasts, including the continental shelf and the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
The EEZ extends up to 200 nautical miles from the baseline, which is the low-water line along the coast as marked on large-scale charts.
UNCLOS also provides for the delimitation of maritime boundaries between adjacent or opposite coastal states. The delimitation is based on the principle of equidistance, which means that the boundary line should be drawn at an equal distance between the respective coasts.
However, in cases where the distance between the coasts is unequal, the boundary line should be adjusted to take into account relevant circumstances such as the presence of islands, the width of the continental shelf, and other relevant factors.
The delimitation of the sea border between Indonesia and Malaysia was based on the principle of equidistance and takes into account relevant circumstances such as the presence of islands and the width of the continental shelf.
The Impact of Batas Laut Pulau Kalimantan on Indonesia’s Foreign Policy
The delimitation of the sea border has important implications for Indonesia’s foreign policy, particularly in relation to territorial integrity and national sovereignty.
The agreement between Indonesia and Malaysia on the sea border is seen as a significant achievement for Indonesia’s foreign policy, as it resolves a long-standing dispute between the two countries and strengthens Indonesia’s position in the region.
It also strengthens Indonesia’s sovereignty over its waters, particularly in the northern part of the Sulawesi Sea and the waters surrounding Kalimantan. This has important implications for the conservation and management of the natural resources in these waters, including fisheries, oil, and gas.
The resolution of the dispute also enhances regional stability and the prospects for cooperation between Indonesia and its neighboring countries, particularly in the areas of maritime security and the blue economy.
FAQs
What is Batas Laut Pulau Kalimantan?
Batas Laut Pulau Kalimantan is the sea border between Indonesia and Malaysia in the waters surrounding the island of Kalimantan.
What is the legal basis of the sea border?
The sea border is based on the principles of international law, specifically UNCLOS, which provides a legal framework for the delimitation of maritime boundaries and the rights and responsibilities of coastal states.
What is the significance of the delimitation of the sea border?
The delimitation of the sea border is significant as it resolves a long-standing dispute between Indonesia and Malaysia and strengthens Indonesia’s sovereignty over its waters. It also has important implications for the conservation and management of the natural resources in these waters and enhances regional stability and the prospects for cooperation between Indonesia and its neighboring countries.
What is the principle of equidistance?
The principle of equidistance is a principle of international law that provides for the delimitation of maritime boundaries between adjacent or opposite coastal states. The delimitation is based on drawing the boundary line at an equal distance between the respective coasts.
What are the relevant circumstances that are taken into account in the delimitation of maritime boundaries?
The relevant circumstances that are taken into account in the delimitation of maritime boundaries include the presence of islands, the width of the continental shelf, and other relevant factors.
What are the implications of the sea border for Indonesia’s foreign policy?
The sea border has important implications for Indonesia’s foreign policy, particularly in relation to territorial integrity and national sovereignty. It strengthens Indonesia’s position in the region and enhances regional stability and the prospects for cooperation between Indonesia and its neighboring countries.
