Why didn't China occupy the Natuna Islands? Missed colonial opportunities years ago
Since the Opium War, China has lost about 13 million square kilometers of territory, equivalent to one-third of China's land, and China's territory has changed from the original begonia-like shape to the current rooster shape.
This is a sad reality that has to be faced. Not only that, but some of the territories that were originally ours, such as the Natuna Islands, were also ceded out.
Located in the southwest of the South China Sea, the Natuna Islands are strategically located near the nine-dash line of the South China Sea, only about 400 kilometers from the Zengmu Dark Shoal, the "South Pole" of the South China Sea, and about 1,900 kilometers from Chinese mainland.
The archipelago consists of 272 islands with a total area of 2,110 square kilometers, which is 10 times the size of the Spratly Islands, and is now administered by the Indonesian province of Riau Islands.
The Natuna Islands are not only strategically located, but also an important passage connecting the Strait of Malacca, the world's main transportation route.
The Natuna Islands have deep ties with China. As early as the Song Dynasty, the Natuna Islands became an important transit point for China's maritime traffic and were regarded as the border of the Song Dynasty.
During the Ming Dynasty, the great navigator Zheng He used the Natuna Islands as his navigation base, and many Chinese settled here, which is known as "Wansheng Shitangyu" and is recorded in the "Zheng He Navigation Chart".
In addition, Zhang Jiexu, a native of Chaozhou in Guangdong Province, also established a kingdom on Natuna Island before the Dutch invasion, which lasted for nearly 200 years.
In 1601, Dutch colonists occupied the island of Java and established the East India Company there, taking over the Ambuna Islands (Natuna). They forbade the writing of Chinese on the island and carried out colonial education.
At the end of World War II, Indonesia gained independence from the Netherlands, and the Dutch ceded the Natuna Islands to Indonesia. In the 80s of the last century, Singapore** reported that due to the cultural differences between the Chinese and Indonesians, the Chinese on Natuna Island hoped to return to China.
At the end of the 80s of the last century, the population was about 150,000, and more than eighty percent of the Chinese at that time. They had pinned their hopes on Chiang Ching-kuo, but Chiang Ching-kuo died soon after. Later, the Chinese on the island turned to Chinese mainland, and were received by Deng Lao, who secretly discussed the independence of the islands and their integration into China.
Unfortunately, due to the lack of strength at that time, the matter was talked about too early, so that Indonesia, which was not friendly enough to China, had a very unfortunate incident in 1998.
The matter has not been officially confirmed by China.
The Natuna Islands, located in the waters of North Sumatra Province in Indonesia, are a beautiful and mysterious place. There are unique natural landscapes such as coral reefs, marine life such as turtles, dolphins, and terrestrial landscapes such as rainforests and waterfalls.
The indigenous people of Natuna, who have preserved their ancient cultural traditions and way of life, are a place worth visiting.
The Natuna Islands have always belonged to Indonesia, but in 1993, the misloading of Chinese maps caused concern and controversy on the Indonesian side. Although there was a certain amount of immigration at the time, the Chinese of the island's 80,000 residents had become a minority.
However, no matter how history changes, it is an indisputable fact that the sovereignty of the Natuna Islands has long been clear.
The Natuna Islands, the treasure of the South China Sea, are rich in oil and a fortress on the sea. Chinese pioneers expanded their territory here, but the result was not the same. This beautiful land did not become the territory of China, but became a Dutch colony, and eventually fell under the control of Indonesia.
Although China has publicly stated that Indonesia has no territorial claim to the Nansha Islands and that the sovereignty of the Natuna Islands belongs to Indonesia, China has no objection to this. However, China, which arrived in the late Qing Dynasty, was too weak, missed the colonial era of nearly two hundred years, and also lost many precious opportunities.
However, history cannot be changed, and we must cherish the current development achievements, study for the rise of China, and work hard for China's rejuvenation. Only by striving for self-improvement can we protect this land and become the true masters.