Indonesia decided keep 'every inch of land, sea'

President Joko Widodo on Tuesday pledged to defend "every inch" of Indonesian land and sea, following clashes with Chinese ships around some islands of Indonesia in the East Sea.
In a national speech, he also said that Indonesia "actively engaged" in the search for peaceful solutions to disputes relating to maritime claims in the area.
"Indonesia continues to actively participate in finding solutions to the conflict in the South China Sea through peaceful negotiations following the verdict of international arbitration at The Hague," he said, referring to the content trial proceedings shaped line last month.
He stressed the sovereignty of Indonesia for Natuna waters and rich resource reserves around the islands amid rising tensions between Beijing and Jakarta after consecutive clashes here.

"We are developing as Entikong area, Natuna, and Atambua, to the world that Indonesia is a huge country, and every inch of land, sea feet are really interested in," he said in the post televised speech, but not directly mention China.

Entikong and Atambua is the territory of Indonesia's remote, each separately bordering Malaysia and East Timor.

His comments came as Indonesia is preparing to celebrate Independence Day, 17/8, with dozens of plans scuttled foreign ships Indonesian officials were arrested for allegedly fishing illegally in Indonesian waters.

Earlier, the government announced the Chinese ships were among the scuttling.

The sinking of the ship in May a large size of China, was arrested while fishing illegally in waters around Natuna has led Beijing sharply criticized.

Unlike some other Southeast Asian countries, Indonesia has long maintained Jakarta opinion no argument with China over the South China Sea, and no territorial claims in the sea.

However, Beijing claim to overlapping areas in the exclusive economic part of Indonesia in the Natuna around.

Happened status increased the clashes between the coast guard and navy vessels and Indonesia with Chinese patrol ships.

After the clashes in June, Mr. Widodo visited Natuna on a warship.

Since then, the country's defense minister has a plan to improve the deployment of military weapons, including surface-to-air missile, in this remote archipelago.