China respects Indonesian decision to arrest its 17 sailors

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BEIJING -- The government of China stated its respect on Indonesian decision to conduct legal act to 17 sailors from the country. They were arrested by the Indonesian authorities in Riau Islands. 

"Government of China hoped Indonesia could take firm actions by considering the security, legal rights, and the interests of the Chinese Nationals detained," said the Spokesperson of Chinese Foreign Ministry Geng Shuang in an official website on Wednesday (April 26).  

He also asked the Indonesian law enforcers to coordinate with Malaysian company employed the Chinese sailors. Embassy of China also kept on communicating with the Indonesian government to solve this case.  

Preliminary information received by Geng said that Chuan Hong 68 ship run by a Malaysian company, Accenture Strategy Sdn Bhd. The company conducted an offshore research where the location had been mentioned in the working contract of the sailors.  

The ship was known to conduct illegal activities on Thursday (April 20). The sailors did an underwater exploration in Riau Islands water area. 

As many as 20 crews were arrested, 17 from China. They were detained by the Indonesian Marine Security Agency. Indonesian government had also took firm actions to any illegal activities in its marine areas conducted by the ships foem China, Taiwan, Japan, and some other South-East Asian countries.