South China Sea: Indonesia summons Chinese ambassador as fishing dispute escalates

[unhappycamper]

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/mar/21/south-china-sea-indonesia-summons-chinese-ambassador-as-fishing-dispute-escalates

‘We respect China, but we must also maintain our sovereignty,’ says Indonesia minister after crew of Chinese trawler is taken into custody

South China Sea: Indonesia summons Chinese ambassador as fishing dispute escalates
Stuart Leavenworth
Monday 21 March 2016 00.34 EDT

China’s ambassador to Indonesia is being summoned over a standoff involving a trawler in the South China Sea, an incident an international expert described as so serious it could alter Indonesia’s foreign policy.

Susi Pudjiastuti, Indonesia’s minister for fisheries and maritime affairs, told reporters she would summon the Chinese ambassador, Xie Feng, on Monday to discuss a Chinese fishing trawler accused of illegally fishing in Indonesian waters.

Indonesian authorities attempted to capture the trawler on Saturday and arrest the Chinese crew. But they were stopped by a Chinese coast guard boat that reportedly “rammed” the trawler and pushed it back into the South China Sea, according to a report Monday in the Jakarta Post. Indonesia still has the crew in custody, Susi said.

China’s foreign ministry disputes Indonesia’s version of events. It issued a statement saying the trawler was operating “in traditional Chinese fishing grounds” before it was “attacked and harassed by an armed Indonesian ship”, prompting the Chinese coast guard to offer assistance.