President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo made his first visit to Natuna, Riau Islands, on Thursday, aboard a warship in a robust display of Jakarta’s sovereignty over the territory.

On board the navy’s KRI Imam Bonjol, Jokowi, who has been looking to shift the nation from its Java-centric development agenda to a more inclusive development programme, brought his focus to bear on developing the region, which is rich in fisheries and natural resources.

Such development of Natuna Islands will be essential not only to ensure local people’s welfare, but also to prevent other countries from enforcing any claim over Indonesia’s vast maritime territory, as Jakarta remains adamant that there is no dispute over its claims in the South China Sea.

Border regions, such as Natuna, which is located about 550 kilometers northeast of Batam Island, have long been neglected. In 2002, Indonesia lost its case against Malaysia over Sipadan and Ligitan — two small islands off East Kalimantan — as a result of Kuala Lumpur’s effective occupancy of the islands, and because of Jakarta tardiness in preparing a legitimate claim.

In a rare gesture, the president on Thursday held a limited Cabinet meeting on board the Imam Bonjol in the Natuna Sea, some 30 minutes from the main Natuna island, instructing his ministers to focus on economic development, while at the same time maintaining the country’s territorial integrity.

Significantly, the Imam Bonjol recently arrested a Chinese fishing vessel operating illegally in Indonesia’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Taking place in a cabin only able to accommodate around 10 people, each minister gave their presentation to the president.

“First, the president instructed [us] to develop the economy — particularly in terms of fisheries and oil and gas — in Natuna Islands and the surrounding area,” Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi told a press conference after the meeting.

Other ministers attending the meeting were Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Luhut Pandjaitan, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Sudirman Said, National Development Planning Minister Sofyan Djalil and Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo.

In the meeting, Susi discussed developing an integrated maritime and fisheries centre in the area, while the government is also seeking to relocate about 6,000 fishermen from overcrowded fishing grounds around Java Island to less crowded, fish-rich waters, including those around Natuna.

“It’s better than having other people [illegal poachers] operating here,” Luhut said.

Sudirman identified around 16 oil and gas blocks in the area, of which five are already operating and 11 are still in the exploration stage.

One of the gas-rich blocks in Natuna is the East Natuna block, which has total proven reserves of 46 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of gas, making it the largest gas reserve in Asia. However, the gas field has a high CO2 level of around 71 per cent, necessitating advanced technology and huge investment to develop it.

As reported earlier, the block needs between US$20 billion and $40 billion in investment. State-owned Pertamina, US-based ExxonMobil, France’s Total SA and Thailand’s PTT Exploration and Production (PTT EP) are among the oil and gas firms reportedly interested in the block.

Aside from economic development, the meeting also discussed a plan to improve national defense in Natuna and its surroundings. However, Luhut said the government was still studying the plan.

During Jokowi’s brief time on board the Imam Bonjol, the warship also took a brief tour of Indonesia’s waters surrounding Natuna’s main island.

Luhut insisted that Jokowi’s rare gesture was not aimed at showing Indonesia’s teeth to China amid the latter’s recent assertiveness in the South China Sea. “We remain friendly with China and other countries,” the top security minister said.

The Riau Islands administration praised Jokowi’s visit, calling on the president to name Natuna as a special economic zone (KEK) to boost more integrated development and attract foreign investment into the area, just like its neighbouring Batam Island.

“If Natuna is managed using the same pattern implemented in Batam, we will have better development there, and investors will have more opportunities to invest,” Riau Islands administration spokesman Hery Mokhrizal said, adding that the administration had formally filed the proposal with Jokowi.

Imam Bonjol’s captain, Maj. Ali Setiandy, said Jokowi’s visit certainly boosted the morale of the navy in maintaining the country’s sovereignty in the Natuna waters in line with the existing rule of law, including taking stern measures against illegal fishing.

“We are here and ready to carry out our duty in line with existing regulations,” he added.