Clear Stance Over Natuna, Jokowi Won't Repeat The Mistake of Ligitan and Sipadan

To day president Jokowi Widodo visited natuna island accompanied by coordinating minister of law, politic and human rights, luhut pandjaitan, foreign minister retno and presidential staff. The main agenda of Jokowi is to observe the isle after the friday clash of which china flagged vessel was bombed over the illegal fishing in exclusive economic zone claimed by Indonesia. 

Following the dispute over the isle, jokowi asserted the sovereignty of the country in economic exclusive zone responding to the accusation of china overlapping the sea territory in natuna. China protested the crackdown of its vessel and the fishermen reported to be injured by indonesia navy. Meanwhile jakarta claimed that no one was injured during the class and the country is in right stance to defend its territory from illegal act of fishing in its sea territory. The cabinet secretary pramono anung asserted that the sovereignty of indonesia in natuna is final. 

China on the other hand not considering their vessel to violate indonesia territory claiming their fishermen were in the china territory. They protested the crackdown of their vessel. According to report from USA senior senator, the fleet of warships accompanied vessel of fishing boat. It is likely a jerk of china over another country and claiming absolute  power against neighbor countries in south china sea. While china who engaged in clash many times in natuna with indonesia declared its right to fish in its traditional fishing ground. 

Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti said the international community did not recognize the so-called '€œtraditional fishing ground'€ the Chinese government had referred to.

'€œIt [the traditional fishing ground] is not recognized by the UNCLOS; the Chinese government statement is baseless,'€ Susi said, adding that the world only recognized so-called '€˜traditional fishing rights'€™. Malaysia was the only country Indonesia had signed a traditional fishing rights agreement with, she further emphasized.

The incident occurred Saturday when Indonesian authorities found Kwang Fey 10078 engaged in illegal fishing on Natuna waters, firing a warning shot after the vessel attempted to flee to the South China Sea.

The Indonesian sea patrol managed to catch the boat and detain its eight crew members. The poachers were also found to have used trawls, which are considered illegal in Indonesia.

As the Chinese vessel was being towed to Natuna Island, an armed Chinese coast guard ship rammed the fishing boat, shut down its engine and pulled it into international waters