In late October 2024, CSIS reported that the China Coast Guard had been “facing off against Indonesian law enforcement and naval vessels over oil and gas resources in the northern portion of the latter’s continental shelf in the South China Sea.” The contested maritime area is located northeast of Indonesia’s Natuna island territory.
The Chinese incursions on the Indonesian continental shelf are meant to disrupt Indonesia’s survey and use of its natural resources located in the maritime area claimed by China, and constitute a part of the Chinese efforts to establish control over the South China Sea.
Efforts Category: China’s Military Pressure vs Indonesia
According to a CSIS material from 1 October 2024, “data from 2024 shows the China Coast Guard (CCG) constantly pressuring Malaysian oil and gas operations.”
Rotating Chinese ships operated in Malaysian waters virtually every day, “patrolling in Malaysia’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf.”
The Chinese focus particularly on Luconia Shoals sitting “between a number of major Malaysian oil and gas projects, many of them started within the last two years.”
In parallel with the Chinese coast guard maneuvers, China also sent diplomatic communication to Malaysia demanding “to halt its offshore oil and gas activities near Luconia Shoals.”
Malaysia has been refusing to give in to China’s demands and maritime pressure, and “has not only continued its existing oil and gas production but also expanded exploratory activity.”
Efforts Category: China’s Military and Diplomatic Pressure vs Malaysia
Modern Great Game Watch 