Jakarta (VNA) – Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi on March 21 summoned the Chinese charge d’affaire in Jakarta over an incident involving a Chinese coastguard vessel entering the country’s Natuna Sea last weekend.
Speaking at a press conference, Marsudi said that Indonesia strongly protests the Chinese coastguard vessel’s violation of its sovereignty.
Last weekend, Indonesian patrol forces in the Natuna Sea intercepted a Chinese fishing boat, the Kway Fey 10078, and detained eight crew members who were accused of illegally fishing in the Indonesian waters.
According to a statement released by the Indonesia Ministry of Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, a Chinese coastguard ship prevented the Indonesian forces from towing the fishing vessel.
The Chinese coastguard vessel demanded the Indonesian patrol forces release the detained the fishing ship within 30 minutes.
The statement also said that the Indonesian side then freed the seized fishing ship.-VNA