The Conflict of South China Sea and Impact on Indonesia's National Interest

The South China Sea is a strategic water area and abundant in natural resources. China's historical claims and activities in the South China Sea have given rise to territorial disputes between China and countries around the South China Sea. Disputes over the territorial waters of the South China Sea are a challenge for regional stability, including Indonesia. This dispute poses a threat to the defense of the sovereignty of the Indonesian state because the contested location is near the Indonesian border, namely the territorial waters of the Natuna Islands. This paper uses a normative juridical approach which uses secondary data with descriptive analytical and qualitative research specifications. The results of this study concluded that the cause of conflict in the waters of the South China Sea is because each country has its interests to be realized to benefit from the conflict that occurs and for Indonesia as a mediating country it can continue to be maintained throughout the conflict in the waters of the South China Sea relating to the archipelago, security, and guaranteeing the freedom of international shipping and most importantly the national interest of Indonesia is not harmed, especially in protecting the country's sovereign territory, namely the territorial waters of the Natuna Islands