Indonesian Navy blows up foreign fishing boats caught illegally fishing in its waters in 2016. (Photo : Getty Images)
Indonesian President Joko Widodo reacted angrily to China's renewed claims that Indonesia's Natuna Islands Archipelago are traditional Chinese fishing grounds by warning China his country won't compromise its territorial sovereignty.
"There is no compromise on sovereignty," said Jokowi. He reminded China the Natunas are "our territory."
Widodo said "... we have the Natuna regency there and there are 169,000 people out there and we want to build our fishery industry there."
Like South Korea, Indonesia is dealing with increasingly brazen incursions by Chinese fishing boats and the China Coast Guard whose ships protect these boats that fish illegally in another country's territorial waters.
Jokowi said he wants to transform Indonesia, the world's largest archipelago, into a maritime power. He also wants to further strengthen its maritime defenses against China and develop its fishing industry.
Widodo said the waters off the Natunas form part of Indonesia's exclusive economic zone. After clashes with Chinese vessels last June, Indonesia's Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti warned China that "stealing fish is a crime."
In early October, Indonesia announced the Indonesian Air Force will launch its largest aerial exercise to pound into China's head the message it exclusively owns the Natunas, and that China's allegation it has overlapping claims to this region because of its illegal nine-dash line belongs to the trash heap of history.
Last August, Indonesia burned Chinese fishing vessels and vessels from other countries caught illegally fishing in the waters of its Natuna Islands. In 2016, it blew-up a number of fishing boats caught illegally fishing in its waters.
"We want to show our existence in the area. We have a good enough air force to act as a deterrent," said Jemi Trisonjaya, IAF spokesman.
Indonesia has always strongly objected to claiming the waters around the Natunas are within its nine-dash line outlawed by the Permanent Court of Arbitration last July 12.
Indonesia sank 60 foreign fishing boats during its Independence Day on Aug. 17 in a dramatic message to China and neighboring countries to stop illegal fishing in Indonesian waters.
Susi Pudjiastuti, Indonesia's Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, said the ships were sunk near eight islands to create artificial reefs. In contrast, Indonesia blew-up captured ships in 2014 and 2015 to send a chilling message to their countries of origin. Malaysia also turns sunken foreign fishing vessels into artificial reefs.
The mass sinkings across Indonesia reinforced Widodo's vow to get tough on foreign boats fishing unlawfully in waters within the country's exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Indonesia also sank several Chinese boats captured off the Natuna Islands archipelago and elsewhere.
