Indonesia deploys 4 additional warships to Natuna amid standoff with Chinese vesselsBy Kiki Siregar
06 Jan 2020 05:59PM
(Updated: 06 Jan 2020 06:00PM)
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/indonesia-china-natuna-islands-dispute-south-china-sea-12237456JAKARTA: Indonesia on Monday (Jan 6) deployed four additional warships to the Natuna Islands, after Chinese vessels refused to leave the area.
The warships will join four other vessels that are currently patrolling in the Natuna area, near the disputed South China Sea.
“We already have four warships there, so tomorrow there will be eight warships in the waters.
We also have hundreds of personnel there,” Commander Fajar Tri Rohadi, a Public Affairs Officer with the First Fleet Command of the Indonesia Navy told CNA.
Dozens of Chinese fishing boats entered the waters of Indonesia’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in Natuna last month. Subsequently, the Indonesian Foreign Ministry summoned the Chinese ambassador in Jakarta and issued a protest.
Beijing has insisted that the Natuna waters are traditional fishing grounds for Chinese fishermen.
The Indonesian Airforce and Maritime Security Board (BAKAMLA) are also patrolling the area, according to Commander Rohadi.
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They have approached the Chinese vessels by communicating through radio.
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He said there are Chinese fishing vessels at around 30 locations. At each spot, there can be up to two boats.
Three Chinese coast guard vessels have also been seen in the area.
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