Indonesian expert: China’s new coastguard law interrupts COC

(VOVWORLD) - Indonesian experts have protested against China’s new coastguard law which gives its coast guard legal cover to fire on foreign vessels in contested waters.

Head of the Law Faculty of Pancasila University of Indonesia, Professor Eddy Pratomo said China’s enactment of the law could escalate tension in the South China Sea (known as East Sea in Vietnam) adding that the new law affects a very large area and water territory in the East Sea, and is not in compliance with the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. The Professor said China’s new Coast Guard law would interrupt negotiation of the Code of Conduct and that countries including Indonesia need to protest against the law. Professor of International Law of University of Indonesia Hikmahanto Juwana noted Indonesia needs to condemn the enactment of the law. Indonesia has repeatedly affirmed that it has no overlapping claims with China in the South China Sea but China has repeatedly violated Indonesia’s Exclusive Economic Zone.

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