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Govt insists Jakarta-Beijing relations normal despite Natuna incident
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Stay alert -- Coordinating Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Minister Luhut Panjaitan speaks to journalists in Jakarta. He insisted that the recent arrest of a Chinese fishing crew for allegedly fishing illegally in Natuna waters, Riau Islands, on Friday, did not damage bilateral relations between Indonesia and China. (thejakartapost.com/Wienda Parwitasari)
T
he government has insisted bilateral relations between Indonesia and China has returned to normal following the capture of a Chinese vessel and arrest of its crew for allegedly fishing illegally in Natuna, Riau Islands.
Coordinating Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Minister Luhut Panjaitan said both countries had resolved the latest dispute, which began from the arrest of eight crew members of a Chinese vessel on Friday evening by the Indonesian Navy in Natuna waters.
Luhut claimed the arrest was part of normal duties customarily conducted by Indonesian authorities in response to any violation committed by foreign parties in Indonesia's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), on the northwest coast of Kalimantan.
"It's just business as usual. If a violation occurs, we will detain and legally process the perpetrators. If they have to be released, then they will be," Luhut said on Monday.
Beijing authorities have reportedly lodged a stern complaint to Jakarta following the seizure, as Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying insisted that the country's Gua Bei Yu boat was operating legally.
The dispute has occurred amid heightening tension in the South China Sea, where China and several Southeast Asian countries have overlapping territorial claims in the waters. Indonesia has not yet played any role as a claimant state.
Indonesia has objected to China's inclusion of parts of the Indonesian-governed Natuna Islands within the "nine-dash line", a map border Beijing uses to show its territorial claim of the South China Sea. China has said it does not dispute Indonesia's sovereignty over the Natuna Islands, however.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Arrmanatha Nasir said the ministry would inform Chinese Embassy officials about their consular rights to the eight detained crewmen, in accordance with the ministry's responsibility.
"[The seizure] is merely a duty of our security officials in taking action against foreign vessels suspected of poaching illegally," Arrmanatha said.
He asserted that the arrest would happen not only to Chinese fishermen, but also to any foreign citizens who carried out illegal activities in Indonesia's waters. (ebf)
