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Natuna Regency

Regency in Riau Islands, Indonesia

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  • 6 chapters
This is an observation from the S'pore Labrador Reserves Park facing the South China Sea between east and west Malaysia, Kalimantan and Singapore where the Natuna Islands and sea are situated.
DChai21's photostream · CC BY 2.0

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With 69,003 inhabitants at the 2010 Census and 81,495 at the 2020 Census, most of the population are Malays with 11% of Javanese migrants, Chinese, Minang, Batak, Banjar people, Dayak people, Buginese people, Sundanese people, and tiny percentage of migrants who come from Sulawesi, Bali, and other provinces across Indonesia. The official estimate as at mid 2025 was 84,910 (comprising 43,310 males and 41,600 females).

Some 80% of its inhabitants are of Malay origin, numerous being descended from Terengganuan, Johorean, and Pattanian descent as results of contact established since 1597. The consequence of this is the usage of Terengganuan Malay beside the Indonesian language as the official language and the Malay language as a lingua franca across the Province of Riau Islands.

Indonesia's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) off the coast of Natuna is slightly overlapped by China's widely disputed South China Sea claim.

History

I-Tsing’s Notes

The discovery of the Natuna Islands by I-Tsing (or Yijing) has been disputed by some historians, who point to errors in interpreting his historical records. Although I-Tsing, a Buddhist monk from the Tang Dynasty, recorded his extensive travels through Southeast Asia and India, there is no strong evidence in his records that explicitly mentions the Natuna Islands. Many historians argue that I-Tsing only referred to the South Sea region in general, specifically Srivijaya (now Sumatra), as a center of Buddhist learning.

Most claims that I-Tsing discovered or mentioned Natuna come from misinterpretations of maps and documents related to the voyages of Chinese sailors such as Zheng He who came several centuries later. In his notes, I-Tsing emphasized his journey to India and his life in Srivijaya rather than exploring the sailing routes to specific islands.

Therefore, some critics suggest that the interpretation linking I-Tsing with the discovery of the Natuna Islands may be a historical misunderstanding. They point out that the shipping routes and records linking Natuna are more related to Persian ships and other sailors who had passed through the region long before I-Tsing.

Malay Sultanate Area

The most notable history of Natuna Islands followed upon the decision of Alauddin Riayat Shah III of Johor and the Green Queen of the Pattani Kingdom to claim Natuna Islands as part of their condominium. However, before the Sultan of Johor and the Pattani Monarch declared Natuna Islands as their condominium in 1597, its previous King, Alauddin Riayat II, created Datuk Kayas'/Dukes' titles as follows:

  1. Datok Amar Lela for ruler of Jemaja Island
  2. Datok Kaya Dewa Perkasa for ruler of Siantan Island
  3. Datuk Kaya Indra Pahlawan for ruler of Serindit Island, (later known as Great Natuna Island)
  4. Datuk Kaya Timbalan Siamah for ruler of Tambelan Islands.

Riau-Lingga Sultanate

The Natuna Islands had close ties with the Riau-Lingga Sultanate, especially after the partition of the old Johor Sultanate in the early 18th century. The Riau-Lingga Sultanate, established in 1824 after the Johor Sultanate collapsed due to Portuguese attacks and internal conflicts, controlled a vast territory, including the islands around the Straits of Malacca and the South China Sea, including the Natuna Islands.

The Riau-Lingga Sultanate played an important role in managing the waters and trade routes in the region. The influence of this kingdom was clearly visible in the political and economic management of the region, including in regulating shipping routes between the Malay Peninsula and the coastal areas of Sumatra and Borneo. During the Riau-Lingga Sultanate, the official administrative name for the Natuna Islands was Natuna Region or Pulau Natuna (in Malay it is called Pulau Natuna or Daerah Natuna ). During the heyday of the Riau-Lingga Sultanate, the influence of Malay culture was very pronounced in the Natuna Islands. The Natuna people, who were mostly of Malay ethnicity, had close ties with this kingdom in the social, cultural, and economic fields. In terms of economy, Natuna became a strategic place for the trade of spices, fish, and other seafood. In addition, the Riau-Lingga Sultanate also protected its territories from external threats, such as colonization by European powers, especially the Netherlands.

After the end of the Riau-Lingga Sultanate and the Dutch colonial influence in the region, the Natuna Islands remained an important part of Indonesia's maritime history. To this day, the historical and cultural heritage of the Riau-Lingga Sultanate is still very much felt in Natuna.

Throughout most of its history since the reigns of Sultanate of Riau-Lingga, the Natuna Islands were part of the Archipelago of Seven Islands/Pulau-pulau Tudjuh/Tujuh which were consisted of the Anambas Islands (currently a separated regency in the province), the Badas Islands (part of Island District of Tambelan in Bintan Regency), Great Natuna/Bunguran Islands, Sejang, Serasan Islands, Subi Islands, and Tambelan Archipelago (part of Bintan Regency). Although government of Kawedanan of Tudjuh Archipelago was dissolved in 1964, its island districts/kecamatan who formed Tudjuh Archipelago still existed until its dissolution in 1999, the sunrise of devolution era government in Indonesia.

Annexation Period by the Dutch East Indies

In the early 19th century, the Dutch further expanded their colonial power in the Indonesian archipelago, including the Natuna Islands. In The Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1824 between the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, the two colonial powers divided their territories in Southeast Asia, with the Netherlands controlling the Indonesian archipelago and the UK controlling the Malay Peninsula. With this agreement, the Netherlands felt they had rights over areas in the Riau Islands, including Natuna.

However, due to its remote location and inaccessibility, the Dutch initially did not supervise the Natuna Islands directly. It was not until the mid-19th century that the Dutch East Indies began to explore the Natuna Islands further and officially annexed the islands into their colonial territory. The aim was to strengthen control in strategic waters and secure trade routes. The Dutch colonial government then designated Natuna as part of the Riau Residency under the supervision of the Riau Resident based in Tanjung Pinang.

During the Dutch colonial period, life in the Natuna Islands remained largely agrarian and simple. The Dutch did little infrastructure development in the area, although they often patrolled the border to maintain security.

Japanese Occupation Period (1942-1945)

When Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies during World War II in 1942-1945, the Natuna Islands were also under the control of the Japanese Empire. Japan saw Natuna as a strategic location for their military defense because of its location in the South China Sea. Therefore, Japan built several military bases on these islands as part of their defense plan in the Southeast Asia region.

The Japanese occupation brought many difficulties to the people of Natuna, because in addition to the heavy Japanese military presence, food was also difficult to obtain. After Japan surrendered in 1945, Indonesia proclaimed independence, but Natuna still had to face a complicated transition period as colonial rule ended.

Becoming Part of Indonesia

After the proclamation of Indonesian independence on August 17, 1945, the Natuna Islands became part of the newly independent Republic of Indonesia. Initially, Natuna was part of the Central Sumatra Province. However, due to its strategic position and location on the border of the South China Sea, the Indonesian government then decided to move the Natuna administration to Riau Province in 1957.

As Indonesia's territory expanded, in 2002 the Natuna Islands became part of the Riau Islands Province, after the province was formed as a separate province from Riau Province. The formation of the Riau Islands Province provided greater autonomy for border areas such as Natuna, as well as greater attention to infrastructure, economic and defense development.

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