China expressed strong dissatisfaction Thursday with Indonesia for detaining Chinese fishermen in the South China Sea and demanded the immediate release of the men and their boats.
Eight fishing boats from south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region were detained by Indonesia on June 20 while in China's traditional fishing grounds off the Nansha islands in the South China Sea, Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang told a regular press briefing.
"In wake of the event, the Chinese Foreign Ministry and Chinese Embassy in Indonesia have lodged urgent representations with the Indonesian ambassador to China and relevant departments in Indonesia," said Qin.
"China is strongly dissatisfied with Indonesia for having detained Chinese fishing boats, and it demands that the Indonesian government immediately release the fishermen and boats," he said.
Qin said the Chinese Embassy in Indonesia would visit the detained men.
The Chinese newspaper Global Times quoted sources as saying Thursday that 75 Chinese fishermen had been detained.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Hasan Wirayuda is scheduled to pay an official visit to China from July 1 to 2 at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi.
"China and Indonesia are strategic partners, and bilateral ties have maintained sound momentum," Qin said.
"The two countries should settle the problem as soon as possible in the spirit of friendly consultation and maintaining the overall situation of bilateral relations," Qin said.
(Xinhua News Agency June 25, 2009)
