"It was their strategy, sacrificing one boat to let the others escape," Rear Admiral Taufiqoerrohman stated.Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesian Navys Rear Admiral of the Western Region Fleet Command (Koarmabar), Achmad Taufiqoerrohman, said the Chinese fishing boat flocking the Natuna Sea was a strategic move to enter the Indonesian waters.
"It was their strategy, sacrificing one boat to let the others escape," Rear Admiral Taufiqoerrohman stated here on Tuesday.
Taufiqoerrohman said 12 suspicious foreign fishing vessels were sighted near the Natuna Sea during a sea patrol exercise on Friday, June 17, 2016.
The Indonesian Navy Patrol boat caught one of the vessels which was seen releasing the trawl while the other escaped from the scene.
The Navys KRI Imam Bonjol caught a Chinese fishing vessel when it was fishing in the Natuna Waters Exclusive Economic Zone, Riau Islands.
Soon thereafter, the Chinese Coast guard went after the Indonesian Navys boat and demanded that the captured Chinese fishing boat be released and claimed it was fishing in the South China Sea area.
"Their action was very provocative as they came after us at high speed and suddenly stopped in front of us. The Indonesian troops remained calm and patient but refused to give up the ships crew and insisted that they will have to be taken to the Natuna Island," added the Rear Admiral.
According to data, the Navy has captured two Chinese fishing vessels in the Indonesian Economic Exclusive Zone between May and June 2016.
Therefore, Taufiqoerrohman expected all parties to immediately resolve the South China Sea dispute in order to maintain Indonesias sovereignty.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2016
