Indonesia to respond appropriately to events in South China Sea

JAKARTA - Indonesia's position on the South China Sea remains unchanged and it will respond appropriately to safeguard its territory, an official said on Oct 31, after a Chinese coast guard vessel interrupted a survey by Jakarta's state energy firm.

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Jakarta said last week it had driven the Chinese coast guard ship away three times in just a few days after its presence in waters more than 1,500km from the Chinese mainland disrupted a survey by a vessel contracted by Pertamina.

China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, which it asserts through an armada of coast guard ships, some of which are accused by its neighbours of aggressive conduct and of trying to disrupt energy and fisheries activities.