KAJAN YURIDIS TENTANG KONFLIK NEGARA SEKITAR LAUT CHINA SELATAN DALAM PERSPEKTIF HUKUM INTERNASIONAL DAN DAMPAKNYA BAGI NEGARA INDONESIA

Abstract

The South China Sea conflict is one of the most complex and sensitive geopolitical issues in Southeast Asia. This issue involves overlapping sovereignty claims by several countries, including China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, and Taiwan. The dispute is not only related to the struggle for maritime territory rich in natural resources, such as oil, gas, and fisheries, but also concerns the strategic position of international shipping lanes that are the lifeblood of world trade. This study aims to analyze the conflict from an international legal perspective, focusing on the provisions of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and examine its legal and geopolitical implications for Indonesia as a country directly bordering the disputed area. This research uses a normative method through a legislative approach and case studies. The study results show that China's unilateral claim through the Nine-Dash Line concept has no valid legal basis according to UNCLOS, as confirmed in the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) decision in 2016. Although Indonesia is not the main party in the claim, this conflict has a significant impact on regional stability, the security of the Natuna Sea waters, and national economic interests. Therefore, Indonesia needs to assert its strategic position based on international law to maintain regional sovereignty while supporting regional peace and stability.