TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Maritime Security Board (Bakamla) said China’s coast guard vessels have again trespassed North Natuna waters today, December 31.

A day earlier, the Foreign Affairs Ministry lodged a protest to the Chinese government over the violation of the Indonesian exclusive economic zone (ZEE) in Natuna.

“We and the Indonesian Navy or KRI have just found another Chinese coast guard in Natuna waters. We then blocked them. We have reported it 30 minutes ago,” said the board’s director of maritime operation, Nursyawal Embun, via a phone call on Tuesday, December 31.

Nursyawal said he could not yet ensure how many ships attempting to enter Indonesian territory and whether the illegal ship escorting fishing boats like it did on December 23. “They are probably smart enough to turn off the Automatic Information System (AIS) so we cannot monitor them via our dashboard at the control center,” Nursyawal added.

Since the violation of ZEE committed by Chinese vessels on December 24, Bakamla stood to guard the border of north Natuna waters along with the Navy. “[The security measure] is carried out by deploying two Navy’s ships and one boat of Bakamla in a bid to ensure no more breaching.”

On December 24, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed a violation against the Indonesian exclusive economic zone (ZEE), including illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) Fishing, and violation against the territory by China’s coast guard in Natuna waters. The ministry had summoned the Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia for the case.

EGI ADYATAMA