indonesia and the indian ocean in the wake of...

Indonesia and the Indian Ocean in the wake of IORA

Riefqi MunaResearcher, Indonesian Institute of Sciences

Visiting fellow, National Security College, ANU

Talking Points for Seminar of Indonesia Study Group (ISG), 25 February 2016, @Crawford School of Public Policy, ANU

Structure

Introduction

Indian Ocean and IORA

Indian Ocean as a Strategic Ocean

“Maritime Fulcrum” and Framing IORA in Indonesia Diplomacy and Security Policy?

Indonesia’s IORA Chairmanship

Prospects and Challenges Ahead

2/25/2016 (c)2016: ISG ANU Seminar Feb 20116

Introduction: Historical

Indian Ocean –ocean that facilitate people/nations to connect, trade –intersection of cultural and civilization.

• Silk-road, Cinnamon -road, Spice-trails (Jalur Rempah)• “1000 BC and for a thousand years …there is evidence that mariners

followed a major West Pacific Warm Pool current from the Spice Islands toeast Africa over a distance of more than 11,000 km…”

• “…This trade route became known as the Cinnamon Route. Evidence frommany sources supports the historicity, range, consistent use and economicviability of the Cinnamon Route: historical evidence stretching back to Romantimes for its existence as a trade route; maritime evidence from the survivalto the present day in the Indian Ocean of the Halmaherian double-outriggerthat sailed the route; and genetic evidence of Spice Island involvement withthe route as early colonizers of Madagascar based on the possession byMalagasy of Asian descent of a near-coalescent Polynesian motif”

Source: Charles E.M. Pearce & Frances M. Pearce, Oceanic Migration: Paths, Sequence, Timing and Range of Prehistoric Migration in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Springer: London-New York, 2010


Relief of Ship ‘Samudra Raksa’ in 8th Century Borobudur Temple


Expedition of BorobudurExpedition Borobudur (2003) Philip Beale, created replica of the Borobudur ship, the Halmaherian double-outrigger shown in bas relief carvings on the walls of the 8th century temple of Borobudur. Sailed from Java – Madagaskar –Cape of Hope, Ghana .


Indian Ocean

• Indian Ocean –connect people, intersection culture and civilizations, since pre-history, Europe's colonial expansion and current global world.

• Indian Ocean rich of resources: fisheries, living-space biodiversity for future generations. Natural resources –sea bad mining etc.

• Routes world trade, energy potential of world 55% oil deposit and 40% gas, and 2/3 of the world's oil shipments, 50% of traffic merchant ships, one third of global cargo traffic, and submarine cables.

• Representing 35,7% of world’s population, but it’s GDP-PPP represented only 10,3% of world GDP-PPP. (2.6 billion inhabitant)

• Indian Ocean has risen to the forefront of world geopolitics.


Indian Ocean Rim Association

IORA (est.1997): 21 member states - Australia, Bangladesh, Comoros, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mozambique, Oman, Seychelles, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, UAE and Yemen.

Dialogue Partners: China, France, Germany, Japan, United Kingdon, USA.

IORA (1997) Priority areas:(i) Maritime Safety & Security, (ii) Trade & Investment Facilitation, (iii) Fisheries Management, (iv) Disaster Risk Management, (V) Academic, Science & Technology, (vi) Tourism & Cultural Exchanges, (plus) woman empowerment.


Problem

IORA has existed for 20 years, however it is very weak regionalism and slow to implement.

Requires stronger of regional identity to strengthen cooperation.

What Indonesia (as Chair 2015-2017) aims to contribute to strengthen IORA?


Global Shipping Routes


Flow of Oil Tanker


Submarine cable


Indonesia SLOCs


Indonesia’s “Poros Maritim Dunia” / Global Maritime Fulcrum


• Geostrategic: Indonesia with very long coastlines in the Indian Ocean.

• Archipelago of Indonesia connect Indian Ocean with Pacific Ocean (Indo-Pacific nature of Indonesia)

• Archipelagic State –but lack of attention –ignorance to the maritime domain

• Poros Maritime Dunia (PMD) is wake up call after long hibernation.

• Pillars of PMD: (1)maritime culture, (2)maritime economy, (3) maritime infrastructure, (4) maritime diplomasi, and (5) maritime security/defence.

PMD & Maritime Security in Indian Ocean

• Indian Ocean as a strategic ocean

• Security issues: Strategic and sub-strategic

• Limited role and assets of Indonesia –much focused on the North

• Need to cooperate with neighboring countries in maritime security domain especially with Australia and India (as a major player in IORA) that share boundaries.

• Long projection in capability development –especially strengthen Western fleet.


Indonesia’s orientation to IORA • PMD positive orientation to IORA.

• Looks for stronger regionalism, and keen to promote IORA regionalism.

• Strengthen/promote “norms setting” --IORA Concord, that refer to international norms of peace, security, peaceful conflict resolution, development, rule of law (UNCLOS). (1st ad-hoc Committee meeting in Bali mid-March in Bali)

• IORA summit (one off) to bring more strategic buy-in cooperation

• Develop “sense of region” identity as basis of cooperation, maritime regionalism.

• Promote IORA as inclusive regionalism


Challenges

• IOR Very large area and diversity of its member –loose organization.

• Inclusivity vs existing disagreement of membership –such as India-Pakistan Issues

• Strategic impact of emerging powers

• Lack of understanding if not unknown by general public –public support


Thank YouQ & A


indonesia and the indian ocean in the wake of...

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