By Joe Fotalattee
An agreement announced on December 23rd resolves Indonesia and Vietnam’s 12-year maritime boundary dispute.
The agreement announced during Vietnam’s President Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s 3-day state visit to Indonesia will ease long-standing tensions between the two nations. China asserts ownership of a portion of the territory that Vietnam and Indonesia had previously disputed, but China’s claim of “historic rights” to the region was rejected when Indonesia and China settled their boundary dispute under the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The agreement is a significant step toward a unified front by China’s neighbors in the peaceful resolution of maritime disputes in the South China Sea.
The agreement was a component of numerous initiatives aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation. By 2028, the two leaders hope to increase bilateral trade to $15 billion. It also resolves years of disputes over fishing areas in the region.