Whenever Chinese fishing vessels land in a major fishing dispute with another country, the standard rationale of China’s foreign ministry is that its fishermen are only exercising their rights to fish in traditional fishing grounds of the Chinese people. This was the case in June 2016, when a Chinese fishing vessel was caught poaching in the Natuna Islands off the coast of Indonesia. The Indonesian navy fired on the ship and drove it away. The Chinese foreign ministry accused the Indonesian navy of firing on a Chinese fishing boat in disputed fishing grounds. Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla said China should respect Indonesia’s sovereignty around the islands. “This is not a clash, but we are protecting the area,” Mr. Kalla told Reuters.

Makabenta, Y. (2021, April 24). China's fishing fleet part of Beijing's drive to become a maritime power: Firts word. The Manila Times, pp. A1, A11.