The Indonesian maritime security agency reported on Thursday that a Chinese coast guard vessel had been driven out of Indonesian waters for the second time in this week, after it disrupted an initial survey by Pertamina, a state-owned energy company operating in the South China Sea.

The Chinese coast guard has been spotted in Indonesia's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) numerous times. However, the most recent incident occurred just days after Prabowo Subito assumed Indonesia's presidency.

China claims sovereignty in the South China Sea by drawing a "nine dash line" across its maps, which cuts through the EEZs Malaysia, Brunei and the Philippines.

In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled that China's claim was not based on international law. Beijing rejects this ruling.

The incidents occurred off the Indonesia Natuna Islands, approximately 1,500 km (932 mile) from China's Hainan Island. It was not immediately known where the incidents took place.

Bakamla (Indonesia's maritime safety agency) said that the Chinese vessel insisted on Monday that this area fell under China's jurisdiction.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry did not respond immediately to a comment request.

The agency announced on Monday that it would continue to patrol and monitor the waters in North Natuna, to ensure that the seismological data collection can proceed without disrupting Indonesia's sovereignty.

It said that on Thursday the Chinese vessel had returned, but it was intercepted again and driven away. The report did not give any details about what the vessel was doing.

China's claim to sovereignty is asserted by an armada coast guard ships that are deployed in the South China Sea. Some of these vessels have been accused of aggressive behavior and disrupting energy and fishing activities.

China says that its coast guard is operating lawfully in order to prevent territorial intrusions into its waters.

In 2021, Indonesian and Chinese vessels shadowed one another for several months near an oil submersible rig which had been performing well assessments in the Natuna Sea. China at that time asked Indonesia to stop drilling on its territory.

Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin (Indonesia's new Defence Minister) met with the Chinese ambassador at Jakarta on Thursday.

In a press release, the defence ministry said Sjafrie was expecting to increase defence cooperation with China including joint exercises. The statement made no mention about the maritime incidents that occurred this week. (Reporting and additional reporting by Ananda Terresia, Writing by Idrees Al; Editing by Martin Petty).

(source: Reuters)