Exploring Tensions Between National Sovereignty And Regional Governance In Indonesia’s Maritime Disputes

Abstract

As a maritime-rich country, Indonesia faces various challenges that harm its national sovereignty, such as Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing (IUUF) and territorial disputes in the South China Sea. Due to the transboundary nature of both the South China Sea and IUUF, there are intersecting authorities and concerns regarding national sovereignty while ensuring regional stability. This paper will focus on exploring tensions between national and regional stakeholders in governing the socioeconomic and political integrity of Indonesia’s maritime domain, specifically focusing on present-day tensions between Indonesia and ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) on maritime disputes in IUUF and the South China Sea during Jokowi’s Presidential Terms (2014, 2019, 2024). This research is inherently qualitative in its approach, with the primary focus being the utilization of secondary data to gather information. Thus, this paper intends to analyze and identify the present tensions between Indonesia and ASEAN in navigating through Indonesia’s maritime disputes through various theoretical frameworks including Environmental Securitization and Geopolitical Analysis. The case study on IUUF and the South China Sea will unfold the regional tensions present and emphasize the need for a unified ASEAN.