No overlapping claims with China in South China Sea: Indonesia FM
Indonesia has dismissed China’s statement that the two countries have overlapping claims in the South China Sea, following recent encounters between Chinese ships and Indonesian navy vessels.
“Our position is clear that claims can only be made on the basis of international law. For Indonesia, we don't have overlapping claims in any form in Indonesian waters with China,” Foreign Minister Retno Marsud said on Wednesday.
Her remarks came after the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Monday that Beijing and Jakarta have no territorial disputes but that they have some overlapping claims on "maritime rights and interests.”
China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, which is also claimed in part by several Southeast Asian countries, including Taiwan, Brunei, Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines. The contested waters are believed to be rich in oil and gas.
Indonesia is not part of the disputes in the South China Sea, but has objected to Beijing’s inclusion of waters around Indonesia’s Natuna Islands within a "nine-dash line" China marks on maps to show its claim on the water.
On Sunday, China’s Foreign Ministry said an Indonesian naval vessel fired on Chinese fishing boats and injured at least one person. It said the incident took place on June 17 as several Indonesian naval ships opened fire on the fishing boats in disputed fishing waters.
One boat and its seven crew were detained, the ministry stated.
China Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said Beijing “strongly protests and condemns such excessive use of force” and urged “Indonesia to stop taking action that escalates tension, complicates issues or affects peace and stability.”
Indonesia, however, said its navy had detained a Chinese vessel but that nobody was hurt in the incident.
It said the navy intercepted 12 foreign vessels illegally fishing which fled as the navy warships approached. The navy vessels followed them and fired a number of warning shots. Only one Chinese ship was finally stopped and boarded.
It was the third such incident this year. Last month, China protested after Indonesia seized a Chinese vessel near Natuna island over allegations of illegal fishing.
Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla said on Monday the country would be more assertive in protecting its exclusive right to the waters around the Natuna Islands.
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