Indonesia drove away a Chinese coastguard vessel out of its exclusive economic zone (Photo: Jernih.com)

The statement by chief of the Indonesian Maritime Security Agency, Vice Admiral Aan Kurnia, came after a Chinese coastguard vessel entered and stayed in Indonesia's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the North Natuna Sea near Riau Islands without authorization. The vessel, Chinese coast guard ship 5204, was detected by an Indonesian patrol ship through an automatic identification system at around 10:00 a.m. local time on Saturday.

Indonesia summoned Chinese Deputy Ambassador to explain the purpose of the China coastguard’s presence in Indonesia's EEZ. At that meeting, Indonesia dismissed China’s nine-dash line, saying it goes against the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).