Chinese coast guard ship did not enter Indonesian territorial waters, China urges Indonesia to release the Chinese fishermen: FM

The Chinese coast guard ship did not enter the Indonesian territorial waters, and it went to assist the Chinese fishing vessel being attacked in traditional Chinese fishing grounds while the vessel was carrying out normal operations, said China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying during a regular press conference on March 21, 2016, answering to the alleged “protest” from Indonesia on a dispute between a Chinese fishing vessel and Indonesian coast guards.

China has immediately asked the Indonesian side to release the detained Chinese fishermen and ensure their personal safety, Hua said.

“It is hoped that the Indonesian side would bear in mind the general picture of bilateral relations and properly handle this incident,” Hua added.

Indonesia has no territorial claims over the Nansha Islands and China has no objection to the fact that Natuna Islands belong to Indonesia. Fishery cooperation is a major component of China-Indonesia mutually beneficial cooperation.

“China is consistently against illegal fishing, and believes that the two sides should press ahead with fishery cooperation in a constructive way including enhancing exchanges and cooperation on fishery governance and law enforcement and properly handle disputes. In the past two days, China and Indonesia have maintained close communication in order to properly deal with the current issues surrounding fishery,” said Hua.

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The Chinese coast guard ship did not enter the Indonesian territorial waters, and it went to assist the Chinese fishing vessel being attacked in traditional Chinese fishing grounds while the vessel was carrying out normal operations, said China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying during a regular press conference on March 21, 2016