Not Creating Problems

Almost all Indonesians support the government\'s efforts to enforce the country’s sovereign rights in the exclusive economic zone in the North Natuna Sea.

KOMPAS/PANDU WIYOGA

Three children stand on a pier overlooking dozens of fishing boats at Lubuk Lumbang Port on Thursday (9/1/2020) in East Bunguran district, Natuna. Local fishermen have said they often spotted foreign fishing vessels in the North Natuna Sea in December 2019.

This stance was revealed in a Kompas poll that showed that 92.6 percent of respondents in 17 major cities in the country support the government\'s move to deploy warships to drive Chinese vessels out. In addition, 93 percent of respondents agree that Indonesian fishermen and security forces should be more active in Natuna waters (Kompas, 13/1/2020).

The Natuna Islands consist of 272 islands in Riau Islands province. The Natuna Islands share borders with Vietnam, Cambodia, Singapore and Malaysia and are on international shipping lines.