Indonesia vows to defend its territory

President Joko Widodo pledged yesterday to defend “every inch” of Indonesia’s land and maritime territory, following clashes with Chinese vessels around Indonesian islands in the South China Sea, reports AFP.
In a state of the nation address he also said Indonesia was “actively involved” in seeking a peaceful solution to the broader regional dispute about ownership of islands in the Sea.
Widodo’s underscoring of Indonesia’s sovereignty over the Natunas islands—and the resource-rich waters surrounding them—comes at a time of high maritime tensions between Beijing and Jakarta after repeated clashes there. “We are developing regions like Entikong, Natuna, and Atambua so the world can see that Indonesia is a big country, and every inch of its land and water is truly taken care of,” he said in a televised address which did not refer directly to China. Entikong and Atambua are remote Indonesian territories bordering Malaysia and East Timor respectively.

 

Indonesia vows to defend its territory

President Joko Widodo pledged yesterday to defend every inch of Indonesias land and maritime territory, following clashes with Chinese vessels around Indonesian islands in the South China Sea, reports AFP. In a state of the nation address he also said Indonesia was actively involved in seeking a peaceful solution to the broader regional dispute about ownership of islands in the Sea. Widodos underscoring of Indonesias sovereignty over the Natunas islandsand the resource-rich waters surrounding themcomes at a time of high maritime tensions between Beijing and Jakarta after repeated clashes there. We are developing regions like Entikong, Natuna, and Atambua so the world can see that Indonesia is a big country, and every inch of its land and water is truly taken care of, he said in a televised address which did not refer directly to China. Entikong and Atambua are remote Indonesian territories bordering Malaysia and East Timor respectively.