Indonesian leader Widodo sails to Natunas on warship in show of force to China

The visit by the Indonesian president to the Natuna islands where his country has clashed with China over fishing rights was aimed at sending a strong message to Beijing, a Jakarta senior official and analysts said.

Indonesia President Joko Widodo toured the archipelago in the South China Sea aboard a warship accompanied by his chiefs of security, foreign affairs and military, among others.

In a meeting held aboard the navy corvette, Widodo told the military to step up patrols following the confrontations between Indonesian and Chinese vessels in recent months. “The capabilities of the military ... in securing our seas should be improved, whether it’s technology or general preparedness,” Widodo said, according to an official statement.

Beijing does not dispute Indonesia’s sovereignty over the Natunas, but insists the 200 nautical mile of exclusive economic zone around the islands overlaps with the “historical waters” within the nine-dash line that Beijing uses to demarcate its “maritime rights and interests” across most of the South China Sea.

In Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said: “We hope that Indonesia can meet us halfway, objectively recognise the relevant dispute and appropriately resolve the relevant fishing issue” to ensure stability and peace.