With Jakarta and Beijing seeking to calm maritime tensions near the Natuna Islands, another territorial breach has reportedly occurred with the Indonesian Navy again arresting a Chinese fishing vessel, the Gui Bei Yu 27088, for illegally fishing in the same waters.

The case has called into question the seriousness of China in its ongoing high-profile diplomatic lobbying following revelations that a Chinese coast guard vessel once again tried to block, this time unsuccessfully, the arrest of the Gui Bey Yu by the Indonesian Navy on Friday.

Tensions with China are expected to flare again as the Indonesian Navy vows to move ahead with the prosecution of eight members of the Gui Bei Yu’s crew under the Fisheries Law. Based on preliminary evidence during questioning, it appears that the vessel was fishing in Indonesian territory without a permit.

The incident occurred a...