The Legality of Okinotorishima’s Islandization under UNCLOS: Implications for Indonesia’s Basepoint Preservation Strategies
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37276/sjh.v7i2.618Kata Kunci:
Islandisasi, Lawfare, Okinotorishima, Pertahanan Eko-Teknologis, UNCLOSAbstrak
Eskalasi realisme maritim di Asia Timur telah mendorong negara pantai untuk memanipulasi karakteristik fitur geografis menggunakan teknologi canggih demi memperluas yurisdiksi, sebuah fenomena yang termanifestasi secara ekstrem dalam sengketa Okinotorishima. Penelitian ini bertujuan menganalisis validitas hukum intervensi teknologi rekayasa Jepang dalam mempertahankan status Okinotorishima sebagai pulau di bawah rezim UNCLOS. Dengan menggunakan metode penelitian hukum normatif melalui pendekatan interdisipliner, kajian ini melakukan eksaminasi yuridis terhadap penelitian perencanaan Ocean City dan proyek propagasi karang massal (coral pegs). Fakta-fakta teknis tersebut kemudian diuji secara dialektis menggunakan doktrin natural condition (kondisi alami) dan yurisprudensi Putusan PCA Tahun 2016. Hasil penelitian membuktikan bahwa meskipun infrastruktur beton dan rekayasa biologi tersebut berhasil mencegah erosi fisik, keberhasilan tersebut tidak memiliki ekuivalensi yuridis. Modifikasi buatan tersebut dikualifikasikan sebagai instalasi yang gagal memenuhi syarat kapasitas alami untuk menopang kehidupan, sehingga fitur tersebut tetap berstatus sebagai “batu” yang tidak berhak atas Zona Ekonomi Eksklusif. Penelitian ini mengidentifikasi praktik tersebut sebagai strategi Islandisasi, yaitu bentuk lawfare yang menggunakan teknologi untuk menciptakan hegemoni material di atas kekosongan legitimasi hukum. Sebagai implikasi strategis, penelitian merekomendasikan Indonesia untuk menolak model ekspansi artifisial tersebut dan beralih mengadopsi paradigma Pertahanan Eko-Teknologis. Strategi ini difokuskan pada pemulihan fungsi ekologis titik dasar di pulau-pulau kecil terluar yang terancam abrasi, seperti di Bengkalis dan Natuna, guna mengamankan kedaulatan tanpa melanggar integritas hukum laut internasional.
Unduhan
Referensi
Anand, A., & Forbes, L. (2021). Calming the Waters of the South China Sea: Solving Territorial Disputes over Artificial Islands. Journal of Student Research, 10(3), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.47611/jsrhs.v10i3.1797
Anisimov, I. O. (2021). Некоторые Международно-Правовые Вопросы Разработки и Передачи Морских Технологий (Some International Legal Issues in the Development and Transfer of Marine Technologies). Moscow Journal of International Law, 2021(4), 136-147. https://doi.org/10.24833/0869-0049-2021-4-136-147
Arai, Y. (2019). The Interpretation of the Regime of Islands: Application to Okinotorishima [Master Thesis, World Maritime University]. WMU Library. https://commons.wmu.se/all_dissertations/1193
Barrie, G. (2021). The 1982 United Nations Law of the Sea Convention: Unresolved Issues Remain. Obiter, 42(3), 529-546. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10520/ejc-obiter_v42_n3_a5
Bueger, C., Edmunds, T., & Ryan, B. J. (2019). Maritime Security: The Uncharted Politics of the Global Sea. International Affairs, 95(5), 971-978. https://doi.org/10.1093/ia/iiz145
Burt, J. A., & Bartholomew, A. (2019). Towards More Sustainable Coastal Development in the Arabian Gulf: Opportunities for Ecological Engineering in an Urbanized Seascape. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 142, 93-102. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.03.024
Cahyani, H. D., Lestari, M. M., & Diana, L. (2025). The Determination of State Baselines Post-Peat Abrasion on Bengkalis Island as Indonesia’s Foremost Island in Terms of International Law of the Sea Perspective. Multidisciplinary Indonesian Center Journal (MICJO), 2(2), 1382-1401. https://doi.org/10.62567/micjo.v2i2.639
Chapman, K. C. S., Cannon, A., Nacimiento, P., Sanger, K., Tomasi, T., Leathley, C., Tevendale, C., & Satryani, G. (2012, July 5). A Rock or an Island? The Significance of Okinotorishima and Its Status under the International Law of the Sea (Arbitration Notes). Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer. Retrieved December 22, 2025, from https://www.hsfkramer.com/notes/arbitration/2012-07/a-rock-or-an-island-the-significance-of-okinotorishima-and-its-status-under-the-international-law-of-the-sea
Charney, J. I. (1999). Rocks That Cannot Sustain Human Habitation. American Journal of International Law, 93(4), 863-878. https://doi.org/10.2307/2555353
Ding, Z. (2024). Maritime Disputes from a Global Perspective and Solutions under International Law. Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media, 66, 34-42. https://doi.org/10.54254/2753-7048/66/2024mu0013
Faccio, S. (2021). “Human Habitation or Economic Life of their Own”: The Definition of Features Between History, Technology and the Law. Liverpool Law Review, 42(1), 15-33. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10991-020-09260-1
Flikkema, M. M. B., Lin, F. Y., Plank, P. P. J. V. D., Koning, J., & Waals, O. (2021). Legal Issues for Artificial Floating Islands. Frontiers in Marine Science, 8, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2021.619462
Fox, S. (2016). The Senkaku Shoto/Diaoyu Islands and Okinotorishima Disputes: Ideational and Material Influences. China Information, 30(3), 312-333. https://doi.org/10.1177/0920203X16665778
Gau, M. S. (2019). The Interpretation of Article 121(3) of UNCLOS by the Tribunal for the South China Sea Arbitration: A Critique. Ocean Development & International Law, 50(1), 49-69. https://doi.org/10.1080/00908320.2018.1511083
Guilfoyle, D. (2019). The Rule of Law and Maritime Security: Understanding Lawfare in the South China Sea. International Affairs, 95(5), 999-1017. https://doi.org/10.1093/ia/iiz141
Gunawan, Y., Dananjaya, M. P., Aditama, S. W., & Onielda, M. D. A. (2025). Indonesian Sea Sand Exports: UNCLOS Compliance v. Environmental Sustainability Dilemma Explored. Jurnal Hukum, 41(2), 394-410. https://doi.org/10.26532/jh.v41i2.32294
Hamid, A. G. (2022). The Principle That the Land Dominates the Sea in the Context of South China Sea Disputes: A Critical Appraisal. IIUM Law Journal, 30(2), 49-75. https://doi.org/10.31436/iiumlj.v30i2.742
Irwansyah. (2020). Penelitian Hukum: Pilihan Metode & Praktik Penulisan Artikel. Mirra Buana Media.
Janata, M. (2024). Vymezení Umělých Ostrovů v Mezinárodním Mořském Právu a Jeho Význam pro Spory v Jihočínském Moři (The Definition of Artificial Islands in the International Law of the Sea and Its Relevance to Disputes in the South China Sea). Acta Universitatis Carolinae Iuridica, 70(3), 143-158. https://doi.org/10.14712/23366478.2024.142
Jo, S. W., & Shim, W. S. (2019). LTE-Maritime: High-Speed Maritime Wireless Communication Based on LTE Technology. IEEE Access, 7, 53172-53181. https://doi.org/10.1109/access.2019.2912392
Katsunori, F. (2025, June 3). Interview: Director, Marine Biodiversity and Environmental Assessment Research Center, JAMSTEC. The Tokyo Okinotorishima and Minamitorishima Islands. Retrieved December 22, 2025, from https://www.t-borderislands.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/en/interview/interview26.html
Kawaguchi, S. (2021, October 14). Interview 1: Principal Researcher, Marine Environmental Impact Assessment Research Group, JAMSTEC. The Tokyo Okinotorishima and Minamitorishima Islands. Retrieved December 22, 2025, from https://www.t-borderislands.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/en/interview/interview3.html
Kawaguchi, S. (2021, October 14). Interview 2: Principal Researcher, Marine Environmental Impact Assessment Research Group, JAMSTEC. The Tokyo Okinotorishima and Minamitorishima Islands. Retrieved December 22, 2025, from https://www.t-borderislands.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/en/interview/interview4.html
Khan, B. Z. (2024). Who Really Owns the South China Sea? The Legal Battle Over Artificial Islands. Journal of Asian Development Studies, 13(4), 1167-1174. https://doi.org/10.62345/jads.2024.13.4.95
Kościelniak, K. (2023). The Artificial Islands of Vietnam in the South China Sea. Reality of Politics: Estimates-Comments-Forecasts, 25(3), 47-62. https://doi.org/10.15804/rop2023303
Lewis, R. (2021). The Artificial Construction and Modification of Maritime Features: Piling Pelion on Ossa. Ocean Development & International Law, 52(3), 239-259. https://doi.org/10.1080/00908320.2021.1917099
Matsuda, T. (2020). Explaining Japan’s Post-Cold War Security Policy Trajectory: Maritime Realism. Australian Journal of International Affairs, 74(6), 687-703. https://doi.org/10.1080/10357718.2020.1782346
Mendenhall, E. (2019). Interpreting the Law of the Sea ‘Regime of Islands’: An Opportunity for Productive US Leadership. Marine Policy, 99, 213-215. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2018.10.043
Miao, Y., Cheng, X., Ding, J., Tian, C., & Zhang, Z. (2022). Investigation on Hydrodynamic Performance of a Two-Module Semi-Submersible Offshore Platform. Ships and Offshore Structures, 17(3), 607-618. https://doi.org/10.1080/17445302.2020.1857928
Midford, P., & Østhagen, A. (2024). The East China Sea: A Case of Ocean Geopolitics and Maritime Conflict. East Asia, 41(3), 223-254. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12140-024-09426-y
Miles, M. B., Huberman, A. M., & Saldaña, J. (2014). Qualitative Data Analysis: A Methods Sourcebook (Third Edition). Sage. https://books.google.co.id/books?id=p0wXBAAAQBAJ
Moritaka, H. (2022, September 15). International Legal Regime regarding Islands and Rocks. The OPRI Center of Island Studies. Retrieved December 22, 2025, from https://www.spf.org/islandstudies/research/a00025.html
NISCSS. (2018). A Legal Critique of the Award of the Arbitral Tribunal in the Matter of the South China Sea Arbitration. In S. Lee & H. E. Lee (Eds.), Asian Yearbook of International Law (Vol. 24, pp. 151-293) https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004437784_009
Omori, M. (2011). Degradation and Restoration of Coral Reefs: Experience in Okinawa, Japan. Marine Biology Research, 7(1), 3-12. https://doi.org/10.1080/17451001003642317
Omori, M., Higa, Y., Shinzato, C., Zayasu, Y., Nagata, T., Nakamura, R., Yokokura, A., & Janadou, S. (2016). Development of Active Restoration Methodologies for Coral Reefs Using Asexual Reproduction in Okinawa, Japan. In C. Birkeland et al. (Eds.), Proceedings of the 13th International Coral Reef Symposium (pp. 359-377). International Society for Reef Studies. https://coralreefs.org/publications/icrs-2016-proceedings
Omori, M., & Iwao, K. (2009). A Novel Substrate (the “Coral Peg”) for Deploying Sexually Propagated Corals for Reef Restoration. Galaxea, Journal of Coral Reef Studies, 11(1), 39. https://doi.org/10.3755/galaxea.11.39
Permanent Court of Arbitration. (2016, July 12). The South China Sea Arbitration: The Republic of Philippines (Claimant) v. The People’s Republic of China (Respondent) (Reports of International Arbitral Awards: Volume XXXIII). https://legal.un.org/riaa/vol_33.shtml
Qamar, N., & Rezah, F. S. (2020). Metode Penelitian Hukum: Doktrinal dan Non-Doktrinal. CV. Social Politic Genius (SIGn). https://books.google.co.id/books?id=TAQHEAAAQBAJ
Reguero, B. G., Beck, M. W., Agostini, V. N., Kramer, P., & Hancock, B. (2018). Coral Reefs for Coastal Protection: A New Methodological Approach and Engineering Case Study in Grenada. Journal of Environmental Management, 210, 146-161. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.01.024
Sadeghi, K., & Musa, M. K. (2019). Semisubmersible Platforms: Design and Fabrication. Academic Research International, 10(1), 28-38. Retrieved from http://journals.savap.org.pk/vol10n1.html
Sampara, S., & Husen, L. O. (2016). Metode Penelitian Hukum. Kretakupa Print.
Sato, A., Nakamura, R., Kitano, M., Mikami, N., & Tamura, M. (2010). Coral Reef Recovery for Fishery Resources and Habitat Rehabilitation: Experience of Japan. Fish for the People, 8(1), 38-43. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12066/804
Savchuk, O. O., Kovtunenko, O. A., & Dashko, D. S. (2024). Нормативне Врегулювання Морського Права: Міжнародний Досвід (Normative Regulation of Maritime Law: International Experience). Legal Scientific Electronic Journal, 2024(11), 265-269. https://doi.org/10.32782/2524-0374/2024-11/60
Song, Y. H. (2009). Okinotorishima: A Rock or an Island? Recent Maritime Boundary Controversy between Japan and Taiwan/China. In S. Y. Hong & J. M. V. Dyke (Eds.), Maritime Boundary Disputes, Settlement Processes, and the Law of the Sea (Vol. 65, pp. 145-175). Martinus Nijhoff Publishers. https://doi.org/10.1163/ej.9789004173439.i-308.56
Tuan, N. K., & Le, V. T. P. (2025). China and Japan’s Strategic Competition in East Asia: The Case of the East China Sea. Edelweiss Applied Science and Technology, 9(3), 964-972. https://doi.org/10.55214/25768484.v9i3.5387
United Nations. (1982, October 7). United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (A/CONF.62/122). https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/38990
Watanabe, Y., Yoshida, K., & Nambara, T. (2014). Ocean City Planning in the Waters of Okinotorishima. In Proceedings of the ASME 2014 33rd International Conference on Ocean, Offshore and Arctic Engineering (Vol. 7: Ocean Space Utilization, pp. 1-9). The American Society of Mechanical Engineers. https://doi.org/10.1115/omae2014-24324
Wirth, C. (2023). Solidifying Sovereign Power in Liquid Space: The Making and Breaking of ‘Island Chains’ and ‘Walls’ at Sea. Political Geography, 103, 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polgeo.2023.102889
Xue, G. (2011). How Much Can a Rock Get? A Reflection from the Okinotorishima Rocks. China Oceans Law Review, 13(1), 1-34. Retrieved from https://colr.xmu.edu.cn/info/1004/1065.htm
Yee, A. (2011). Maritime Territorial Disputes in East Asia: A Comparative Analysis of the South China Sea and the East China Sea. Journal of Current Chinese Affairs, 40(2), 165-193. https://doi.org/10.1177/186810261104000207
Yoshikawa, Y. (2007). The US-Japan-China Mistrust Spiral and Okinotorishima. Asia-Pacific Journal, 5(10), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1557466007022164
Zubaidi, A. K. M., Wiyana, R. I., & Ramadhani, S. N. (2024). The Role of International Law in Safeguarding Indonesia’s Sovereignty: A Case Study of the North Natuna Sea. Journal of Political and Legal Sovereignty, 2(2), 235-247. https://doi.org/10.38142/jpls.v2i2.213
