Australia and Indonesia’s rights to protect maritime sovereignty: Is burning boats an effective way to uphold the law?

Under the direction of then Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Minister, Indonesia in 2015-2016 is estimated to have destroyed over 200 foreign vessels. Source: 2016 Jefta Images / Barcroft Media via Getty Images

Australian and Indonesian authorities appear to share an understanding that burning boats deters foreign vessels from illegally entering our sovereign waters. Both countries also appear keen to publish photos of the boat burnings. So why did Indonesia withdraw from a joint maritime patrol when the Australian Border Force burned 3 Indonesian vessels that were caught fishing illegally in Australian waters?

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Jamaluddin Syakirin is a PhD candidate at Airlangga University who is researching Indonesia’s “maritime axis” strategy.  He explains to Sri Dean why Indonesia responded the way it did and suggests other means of deterrence.

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Governments seem to have no problem with burning boats but might the practice be illegal? Source: AAP