Indonesian President Joko Widodo visited the Natuna Islands on a naval warship on Thursday. The visit comes just few days after China stated that it has an "over-lapping claim" in the Natuna Islands.

Widodo made the visit along with his chief security minister and foreign minister. The official statement issued by the presidential palace said that president intended to conduct a cabinet meeting on the naval warship.

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However, the visit has been referenced by many Indonesian officials as the strongest message that Jakarta has given to China on the issue of Natuna Islands in recent times.

"In the course of our history, we've never been this stern (with China). This is also to demonstrate that the president is not taking the issue lightly," Chief Security Minister Luhut Pandjaitan told The Jakarta Post newspaper.

China on Monday said that although the Chinese government does not challenge Indonesia's sovereignty over the Natuna Islands, some maritime territory is subject to "overlapping claims on maritime rights and interests."

In response, Indonesia's Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi on Wednesday dismissed China's views, adding that all the maritime territory around Natuna Islands belongs to Indonesia.    

Beijing claims that Indonesia's exclusive economic zone off the coast of Natuna slightly overlaps its nine-dash-line, a demarcation line that was initiated by the Taiwanese government, with the help of US government.       

China and Indonesia have had numerous face offs around Natuna Islands in recent months. Only few days before, Indonesian naval officials seized a Chinese fishing boat and all the crew members for allegedly entering Indonesia's territory.

Similarly, earlier this year Indonesian navy officials captured a Chinese trawler along with all its crew members around Natuna Islands. The incident became a major diplomatic crisis after Indonesia refused to release the Chinese crew, vowing to prosecute them under Indonesian law.

China claims 90 percent of the South China Sea as its own, but its claim is challenged by several neighbors, most of whom are smaller in geographical size - with the exception of Indonesia.

Tagschina, Indonesia, Joko Widodo, Indonesian President, Natuna Islands