Jakarta lacks pragmatism at sea

Fishing boats anchor at the Tanmen port in Qionghai city, South China's Hainan province, May 16, 2016. China banned fishing from May 16 to Aug 1 in the South China Sea, a measure taken for the 18th consecutive year. [Photo/Xinhua]

In the latest violence against Chinese fishermen, the Indonesian navy detained one Chinese fishing boat in China's traditional fishing grounds near Natuna Islands in the South China Sea and fired at another Chinese fishing boat, injuring one of its crew members. Responding to the strong protest from China's Foreign Ministry against the June 17 incident, Indonesia argued that its navy had acted to "maintain its maritime sovereignty".

The Natuna Islands are in the waters outside China's nine-dash line. But the 200-mile exclusive economic zone claimed by Indonesia overlaps with a 50,000-square-kilometer area within the nine-dash line, which Chinese fishermen have been using for ages.

Under the "maritime power" strategy, the Indonesian government has used heavy-handed measures against "illegal fishing activities" in the South China Sea.

Beijing does face provocations from several parties in the South China Sea, and any forcible reaction to Jakarta may push Indonesia closer to such countries as the Philippines and cause it to become a new card for the United States to play in the power game with China. But for the sake of its sovereignty and national interests, China will not go on making unprincipled concessions.

China does not want its historical opportunity for peaceful development to be easily ruined, but that would not be at the cost of losing its territory.

China has to deal with fishing disputes with Indonesia in a low-key manner before Jakarta takes measures that could intensify the disputes. However, China will respond resolutely if the South China Sea issue is used as a chip to pressure it to change its stance. Maintaining friendly bilateral ties is in the interest of not only China, but also Indonesia.