JAKARTA — Indonesia is determined to assert its exclusive right to a corner of the South China Sea where there has been a run of skirmishes between Indonesian navy ships and Chinese vessels, Vice-President Jusuf Kalla said yesterday, in another sign that Jakarta is taking a firm stand against maritime incursions in its territorial waters.
Mr Kalla said Indonesia would send a message to China demanding that it respect the South-east Asian nation's sovereignty over waters around the Natuna Islands cluster.
"This is not a clash, but we are protecting the area," said Mr Kalla in an interview with Reuters at the presidential palace. Asked if the Indonesian government had made a decision to be more assertive, he said: "Yes, we will continue."
China's Foreign Ministry said on Sunday that an Indonesian naval vessel fired on a Chinese fishing boat near the chain of islands on Friday, injuring one person.
Indonesia's navy yesterday confirmed one of its warships had fired warning shots at several Chinese fishing boats in waters off the islands and detained one of the vessels and its seven crew members, but there were no injuries.
"We will not hesitate to take decisive action against foreign ships, whatever their flag and nationality, when they commit violations in Indonesian territory," said Indonesian navy spokesman First Admiral Edi Sucipto.
Indonesia's Maritime and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti said the navy followed correct procedures for dealing with poachers. "We don't shoot for no clear reason. Protecting the sovereignty of our country is a must," she wrote on Twitter.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo met with Security Minister Luhut Panjaitan yesterday following the clash and ordered him to defend Indonesia's sovereignty, said presidential spokesman Johan Budi.
"The president ordered him to defend Indonesia's territorial sovereignty that we have struggled to build up since our independence," he said, adding that Mr Widodo wanted this done without "affecting good relations".
Responding to Mr Kalla's remarks, Chinese Foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said yesterday China had expressed condemnation of the "indiscriminate use of force".
"We urge the Indonesian side to refrain from any action that complicates or magnifies the dispute, or impacts the peace and stability of the region," said Ms Hua.
Indonesia is not part of a broader regional dispute over China's claims on swathes of key waterways.
But Jakarta has objected to Beijing's inclusion of parts of the Indonesian-ruled Natuna Islands within a "nine-dash line" that China marks on maps to show its claim.
China has repeatedly said it does not dispute Indonesia's sovereignty over the Natuna Islands, but Mr Kalla said yesterday its ships sometimes claim that they have the right to operate in waters around the islands because they are "traditional Chinese fishing grounds".
"But we are focused on the legal basis," he said, referring to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. "We will send a message to the other side to honour the area in accordance with the law."
Indonesia's latest skirmish with Chinese fishing vessels over the weekend is the third confrontation near the Natuna Islands this year and comes amid rising regional tensions over China's assertiveness in the South China Sea.
Late last month, China lodged a strong protest after the Indonesian navy seized a Chinese boat in waters near the islands for allegedly fishing illegally. In March, Chinese coastguards rammed a Chinese boat detained near the Natunas and helped it escape as the Indonesians towed the vessel to shore. Jakarta responded by lodging a protest and summoning Beijing's top envoy in the country.
Indonesia has launched a tough crackdown on illegal fishing in recent months, sinking foreign boats after removing the crews. It is also beefing up its military presence in the Natuna Islands, in a sign that it is stepping up efforts to push back against maritime incursions.
Indonesian Minister of Defence Ryamizard Ryacudu last month revealed plans to deploy three more frigate ships, a fighter jet, drones and radar to the islands, on top of sending in an army battalion and special forces from the Navy and the Air Force. AGENCIES
Source: Indonesia vows 'decisive action' against Chinese ships
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