Indonesia’s Foreign Policy Towards Malaysia in the Post Soeharto Era: A Case Study of Ambalat Dispute

Abstract

This article seeks to examine Indonesia's foreign policy with Malaysia in the post-Suharto era especially in the Ambalat disputes. The primary objective of this article is to answer questions why the dispute has not been solved for more than half a century? What has been done by both parties? Why the Ambalat Block is still far from been resolved? What kinds of obstacles have been faced by both parties for taking so long on the negotiation process? This article shows that Indonesia's concern on Ambalat issue is due to losing Sipadan-Ligitan that finally belongs to Malaysia after the International Court of Justice's decision in 2002. Interestingly, this study revealed that during Ambalat dispute, both countries were involved in a serious tension with the mobilization of soldiers, warships, and fighter jets, despite that Indonesia and Malaysia are both member countries of ASEAN.

The Problem of Delimitation of the Indonesian-Malaysian Border in the Sulawesi Sea

“…Первое разрешение было выдано японской компании JAPEX (Japan Petroleum Exploration Co.) в 1966 г. 8 . Упомянутые события привели к нарастанию противоречий между странами и способствовали значительной, но, впрочем, все же недостаточной интенсификации переговорного процесса 9 .…”