Indonesia plans to buy bigger vessels to allow its coast guards to travel across the ocean, notably the Natuna Sea off Riau Islands, and expand their patrol reach, local media reported.
Indonesian naval ships found many Chinese coast guard and fishing vessels remain in Indonesia’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) near Natuna waters on January 11, four days after President Joko Widodo’s visit to Natuna district in Riau Islands province.
Indonesia is to send around 120 fishermen from the island of Java to the Natuna islands in the Riau Islands Province, said Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Mohammad Mahfud on January 6.
Ministries and agencies of the Indonesian Government have continually held meetings over the last few days following China’s entry into the Southeast Asian country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
Indonesia has dismissed China’s invitation to sit down for a dialogue to “manage disputes” over Indonesia’s exclusive economic zones (EEZ) in the North Natuna Sea, arguing that there are no overlapping claims there.
Representatives of the Vietnamese Embassy in Indonesia have visited Vietnamese fishermen who have been temporarily detained on the country’s islands for illegal fishing.
The Vietnamese Embassy in Indonesia on November 15 sent a consular official to the court of Ranai in Indonesia’s Natuna islands, a day before a hearing for five Vietnamese captains who were arrested by Indonesian authorities at sea, to discuss the case with Indonesian prosecutors and lawyers.
Thailand’s PTT Exploration and Production announced it will stop its investments in Indonesia after being filed for a two-billion-USD compensation by the Indonesian Government over the oil spill in 2009.
Indonesia will sharply strengthen security around the Natuna Islands on the East Sea, said the country’s Defence Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu on July 13.
Indonesia has decided to increase its defence budget to 108.7 trillion IDR (8.25 billion USD), up nearly 10 percent against this year’s initial set budget.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo has asserted to prioritise economic development in the region of Natura island, especially in areas of seafood and energy.
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