We have already talked about China’s difficulties with her neighbors Japan and the Philippines. Now we have a report of a confrontation with Indonesia. Apparently Indonesia had chosen to keep this quiet, but the Chinese have chosen to brag about it.
The Indonesian vessel involved was reportedly a Todak class, which is a German Lurssen “PB-57” design, a bit larger than the FRC at 447 tons fl, 58.1 meters long and 7.6 meters of beam, armed with a Bofors 57mm (like that on the NSC), a 40mm and two 20mm. Clearly if it had come to a fight, the Indonesian vessel would have enjoyed an advantage, at least until Chinese reinforcements arrived.
China is showing a complete disregard for the provisions of the UNCLOS treaty to which they are a party.
Making an enemy of Indonesia is a particularly bad idea for China, in that Indonesia potentially controls all the major straits through which the vast majority of Chinese trade must pass and all the alternatives are also in the hands of nations China seems intent on alienating.
I think China is taking the “we’re too big to fail” posture.
Some clarification here: http://thecardinal.wordpress.com/2014/04/02/why-there-is-no-new-maritime-dispute-between-indonesia-and-china/
Looks like Indonesia’s opposition to China is firming up. http://www.marinelink.com/news/indonesia-clarify-claims400763.aspx
Another incident of the Chinese Coast Guard intervening in an enforcement action against a chinese F/V. https://www.yahoo.com/news/indonesia-summon-chinese-envoy-boat-confrontation-163804030.html
China claims their vessel did not enter Indonesian waters, presumably because all the waters are theirs. http://www.marinelink.com/news/indonesian-vessel-waters406964.aspx
Another view. http://warontherocks.com/2016/03/china-to-indonesia-thanks-for-all-the-fish/
There really is no problem, really, http://www.marinelink.com/news/indonesia-conflict-china407047.aspx
Explaining why SE Asian nations need stronger CGs to stand up to the Chinese. http://nationalinterest.org/feature/the-south-china-seas-%E2%80%98white-hull%E2%80%99-warfare-15604
Now it is 100 Chinese vessels reported in Malaysian waters. http://www.marinelink.com/news/malaysian-encroach407163.aspx
Third incident this year, between Indonesia and Chinese F/Vs. http://www.marinelink.com/news/indonesian-fisherman411429.aspx
From the German Navy Blog, Marine Forum, dated 23 June, “South China Sea: In a clear signal to China, Indonesian President Joko Widodo embarked on Indonesian Navy corvette „Imam Bonjol“ (PARCHIM class) and sailed to the Natuna Islands … during a cabinet meeting on board called on the military to step up patrols in the area.”
Indonesian President says “Nine Dash Line” has no basis in international law http://www.maritime-executive.com/article/indonesian-president-rejects-chinas-nine-dashed-line
Indonesia responds to China. http://www.wsj.com/articles/oil-gas-fish-indonesias-arsenal-in-south-china-sea-dispute-1468136385
Indonesia stands firm against illegal fishing, even against the Chinese. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-08-15/indonesia-to-destroy-71-boats-in-display-of-maritime-sovereignty
Indonesia resonds to Chinese bullying by bringing in their Navy. http://qz.com/695526/indonesia-had-another-high-seas-encounter-with-china-but-this-time-it-brought-a-bigger-boat/
From the German Nav blog, Marine Forum”: 12 March, “South China Sea: In an effort to „prevent occupation or claims of possession by other nations“ (rmks: China), the Indonesian government has declared 111 outer islands, incl. Riau Islands in the southern South China Sea, as „Indonesian border areas“”