Flashpoints

Would Indonesia Actually Challenge China’s Nine-Dash Line in International Court?

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Flashpoints

Would Indonesia Actually Challenge China’s Nine-Dash Line in International Court?

Don’t read too much into Luhut Panjaitan’s comment about bringing the South China Sea issue to an international court.

Would Indonesia Actually Challenge China’s Nine-Dash Line in International Court?
Credit: Wikimedia Commons/ CIA

A top Indonesian official recently said his country was seeking clarification on the extent of Chinese claims to the South China Sea – and could take China to international court if that clarity isn’t forthcoming. Luhut Pandjaitan, the chief of staff to Indonesian President Joko Widodo as well as Jakarta’s coordinating minister for political, legal, and security affairs, made the comments on Wednesday.

According to Reuters, Panjaitan called China’s “nine-dash line,” which claims most of the South China Sea for Beijing, “a problem we are facing,” saying that “we don’t want to see any power projection in this area.” It’s not only a problem for Indonesia, either – the nine-dash line “also directly (impacts) the interests of Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam, and the Philippines,” Panjaitan added.

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