China's Claim Denies RI's EEZ: Expert

Jakarta (Antara Babel) - China's claim over a traditional fishing ground is based on unilaterally declared nine-dash-line, which amounts to denying Indonesia's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), an international law expert said.

"The concept of Indonesia's EEZ is based on international law and UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea). On the contrary, the traditional fishing ground and nine-dash line are not recognized in the international law and UNCLOS," Prof Hikmahanto Juwana of the University of Indonesia (UI) said in a statement released on Thursday.

He said President Joko Widodo's plan to hold a limited meeting with a number of ministers in Natuna Islands showed the Indonesian government's firm stand on the Chinese government's claim.

"The message he wishes to convey is that the Chinese government should not play fire with Indonesia in the Natuna area," he said.

The president has taken the right step to instruct the Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Susi Pujiastuti and Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Sudirman Said on the EEZ and the continental shelf, he said.

The instruction is aimed at encouraging local fishermen and business agents to exploit natural resources in the maritime zone, he said.

"The foreign minister must continue to lodge protests against illegal fishing in the EEZ. It seems that China had encouraged fishermen to catch fish there by deploying coastal guard ships, which have gone beyond the Chinese territorial waters, among other things," he said.

Coordinating Minister for Political, Security and Legal Affairs Luhut Pandjaitan reaffirmed here on Wednesday that the country's naval ship had detained the Chinese fishing boat Han Tan Cou 19038 recently in accordance with international procedures.

"Our sovereignty was not a matter of bargain. Based on international laws, our position is very strong," he said at a meeting with former Constitutional Court Chairman Mahfud MD.

He expressed his conviction that the Chinese fishing boat was detained and its crew was arrested as per international procedures to show that Indonesia is a sovereign country that respects international laws.

"It was not wrong. It was done according to international procedures. The diplomatic process in this issue is continuing as diplomacy never stops," he said.

Minister Luhut explained that according to international laws, a foreign ship need not have an operation permit to be in the Exclusive Economic Zone, but when it has an economic motive, it must secure a permit. Otherwise, firm action in the form of arrest and detention of the vessel must be taken if it is found violating territorial limits.

The Indonesian navy had seized the Chinese fishing boat Han Tan Cou 19038 in the Natuna waters on June 17 and arrested its seven crew members.

At a press conference, the commander of the navy's Western Fleet Command, Rear Admiral Achmad Taufiqoerrohman, had narrated that the navy had fired warning shots in the air before it was finally able to seize one of 12 fishing boats found fishing illegally in the waters. The remaining 11 had managed to flee.

Following the seizure of its boat, China has lodged an official protest saying that the boat was fishing in its territorial waters.