Moreover, instead of involving the establishment of a joint zone, or seeing
the extension of the existing JPDA created under the Timor Sea Treaty,
CMATS involves the parties agreeing to equally share the upstream benefits
from one specific field (or complex of fields). Australia’s sovereignty concerns
have therefore been met, and particularly its desire to safeguard its earlier
boundary agreements with Indonesia. As a result, any possibility of disrupting
improving relations with Indonesia on this issue has been avoided