INDONESIA MIRED IN CHINA GRAY ZONE TRAP: Indonesia is facing a territorial crisis in its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the North Natuna Sea. China has been conducting regular incursions into Indonesian waters that China says are its own under its 9 Dash Line territorial claim. Ruled invalid by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the claim encompasses nearly 90% of the South China Sea. China has routinely conducted illegal fishing in Indonesia’s EEZ, patrolled the waters with its Coast Guard and maritime militia fleets, and even conducted seafloor mapping for future resource exploitation. The Indonesian government appears hesitant to confront these encroachments as its leadership and wealthy industrial class derive significant economic benefits from business with China.
SHOTS FIRED IN THE TAIWAN STRAITS; TAIWAN SAYS NO MORE CHINESE DRONE HARASSMENT: According to a Reuters report, the Taiwan military fired warning shots at Chinese drones operating over Taiwan territory. The incident occurred on Erdan Island in the Kinmen Islands, a group of islands near the Chinese coast. Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen said she ordered the military to take “strong countermeasures” against the continued provocations by Chinese military forces. The drone reportedly left the area after the shots were fired.
NORD STREAM 1 PIPELINE CLOSES: Citing scheduled maintenance requirements recommended by equipment manufacturer Siemens, Russian gas giant Gazprom, announced the closure of the sole remaining gas compressor unit on the Nord Stream 1 pipeline. The company says operations at its Trent 60 compressor will be suspended for an expected three-day servicing and preventative maintenance cycle. Gazprom’s announcement was met with fierce criticism in Europe where many countries have accused Russia of planning to cease delivery and use energy as a “weapon of war.” Gazprom’s European customers accuse Russia of deliberately inflating gas prices and causing shortages in response to Western sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine.
In today’s Early Warning, Mike takes a look at what’s driving the illiberal right wing, and the team provides an overview of other domestic and geostrategic developments. Stay ahead of what comes next with Early Warning: https://forwardobserver.com/subscribe