Indonesia rejects China's claims over South China Sea

Indonesia's Deputy Minister for Maritime Affairs Arif Havas Oegroseno pointing at the location of North Natuna Sea on a map of Indonesia during a press conference in Jakarta, Indonesia. - Reuters

JAKARTA: Indonesia said on Wednesday (Jan 1) it rejected China's claims over a disputed part of the South China Sea as "having no legal basis", after two days earlier protesting to Beijing over the presence of a Chinese coastguard vessel in its territorial waters.

The boat trespassed into Indonesia's exclusive economic zone off the coast of the northern islands of Natuna, leading Indonesians officials to issue a "strong protest" and summon the Chinese ambassador in Jakarta.