Indonesian Fishermen Join Warships To Defend Against China

Indonesian Fishermen Join Warships Against China To Defend Sovereignty

INDONESIAN FISHERMEN JOIN WARSHIPS – The government of Indonesia said that they would mobilize their fishermen to join warship to defend against Chinese vessels.

Indonesian Fishermen Join Warships To Defend Against China
Image from: The Australian

According to an article from ABS-CBN, President Joko Widodo told reporters: “There is no negotiation when it comes to sovereignty“. This was following the escalating stand-off between China and Indonesia.

Since the last month, the stand-off between the two nations started in the northern Natuna islands. Here, Chinese coast guards and fishing vessels got hostile amidst their generally friendly relationship.

The security minister of Indonesia, Mahfud MD, stated that around 120 fishermen from the Java island would be sent to Natuna. This would be about 1,000 km (600 miles) to the north.

We want to mobilize our fishermen from the north coast and maybe in turn from other areas to operate by fishing there and other things

Mahfud MD

As per the report, Indonesia had stated that there are now six Indonesian warships on the island and four more were on the way. In addition, fishermen would also be defending the island.

Indonesian vessels often find conflict between Chinese fishermen around the Natuna Islands. However, the presence of the Chinese coast guard vessels escalated the tension between the two nations.

This led to Indonesia summoning the Chinese ambassador. Following this, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang stated that China had sovereignty over the Spratly Islands.

He added that both China and Indonesia have “normal” fishing activities there. Although, the spokesman did not specifically mention the Natuna islands which are southwest of the Spratlys.

Back in 2016, tensions between the two nations peaked after a Chinese coast guard vessel rammed a Chinese fishing boat to set it free. This was following Indonesian authorities intercepted the vessel for illegal fishing activities.

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