Indonesian President sails to disputed South China Sea

Indonesia President Joko Widodo’s visit was described by Indonesian officials as the strongest message that has been given to China over the issue.

A presidential palace statement said Widodo intended to hold a cabinet meeting aboard the warship. “We’ve never been this stern (with China). This is also to demonstrate that the president is not taking the issue lightly,” said Chief Security Minister Luhut Pandjaitan. 

Beijing said on Monday that while China does not dispute Indonesia’s sovereignty over the area, “some waters of the South China Sea” were subject to “overlapping claims on maritime rights and interests”. 

Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi rejected China’s stance, saying the waters around Natuna are in Indonesian territory. There have been a series of face-offs between the two countries in the area but both have denied that the matter is a territorial or diplomatic dispute.