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Jokowi should stand firm in fishing dispute against China: House
Leadership: President Joko âJokowiâ Widodo has been called on to show firm leadership in response to a recent fishing dispute between Indonesia and China
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Leadership: President Joko âJokowiâ Widodo has been called on to show firm leadership in response to a recent fishing dispute between Indonesia and China. (Courtesy of the Presidential Office) (Courtesy of the Presidential Office)
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span class="inline inline-center">Leadership: President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo has been called on to show firm leadership in response to a recent fishing dispute between Indonesia and China. (Courtesy of the Presidential Office)
House of Representatives deputy speaker Fahri Hamzah has called on President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to show firm leadership amid the fishing dispute between Indonesia and China.
'President Jokowi should not underestimate the complexity of the dispute and just leave the problem to Ibu Susi [Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti] because she is responsible only in the handling of technical matters related to maritime affairs,' he said at the House complex in Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Monday.
The Indonesia-China fishing dispute might carry other troubles related to military and regional politics, the Prosperous Justice Party lawmaker further said.
Fahri's remarks followed the issuance of a formal letter of protest by the Indonesian government against measures taken by a Chinese coast guard vessel when it forcibly reclaimed a Chinese fishing boat that had been apprehended while fishing illegally near the Natuna Islands on Saturday.
Indonesian authorities had seized a China-flagged fishing vessel, the MV Kwang Fey 10078, and arrested its crew members for fishing illegally in Indonesian sea territories around Natuna, Riau Islands. On their way to Natuna Island, Indonesian authorities had an encounter with a Chinese coast guard patrol, who demanded that the Maritime and Fisheries Monitoring Task Force surrender the Chinese trawler, which was being towed.
Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi summoned the official managing the affairs of the Chinese Embassy in Jakarta, Sun Weide, to convey the Indonesian government's protest over the incident.
The minister said that Indonesia rejected China's claim that the fishermen were operating within 'a traditional Chinese fishing ground'. She said the Chinese coast guard vessel had violated Indonesian sovereignty and jurisdiction over its Exclusive Economic Zone and continental shelf areas.
'I underline that in good inter-State relations, international law principles, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea [UNCLOS] 1982, must be respected. Indonesia is not a claimant in the South China Sea,' she said on Monday
Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti said the international community did not recognize the so-called 'traditional fishing ground' the Chinese government had referred to.
'It [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. (sha/ebf)
