China claims Indonesia shot at its fishermen

By Mahmut Atanur

BEIJING (AA) – China’s foreign ministry has claimed that Indonesian warships shot at and detained Chinese fishermen in the South China Sea, and has launched an official protest.

State news agency Xinhua reported late Sunday that Chinese boats had been harassed and shot at by several Indonesian navy warships in a disputed fishing ground

It said the ministry had "strongly protested" the "harassment", which was reported to have left one crewmember injured, and seven crew detained.

"China strongly protests and condemns such excessive use of force," spokesperson Hua Chunying was reported to have said.

China considers almost all of the resource-rich South China Sea its territory, but Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei, Vietnam, Indonesia and Taiwan also have overlapping claims.

The incident -- which occurred Saturday off the Natuna Islands, off the northwest coast of Borneo -- took place in what Xinhua called "a traditional Chinese fishing ground".

Xinhua stated that Indonesia's actions violated international laws, including the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

"China urges Indonesia to stop taking action that escalates tension, complicates issues, or affects peace and stability," Hua was reported to have said.