President Joko Widodo pledged Tuesday to defend "every inch" of Indonesia's land and maritime territory, following clashes with Chinese vessels around Indonesian islands in the South China Sea.
In a state of the nation address he also said Indonesia was "actively involved" in seeking a peaceful solution to the broader regional dispute about ownership of islands in the Sea.
Widodo's underscoring of Indonesia's sovereignty over the Natunas islands -- and the resource-rich waters surrounding them -- comes at a time of high maritime tensions between Beijing and Jakarta after repeated clashes there.
"We are developing regions like Entikong, Natuna, and Atambua so the world can see that Indonesia is a big country, and every inch of its land and water is truly taken care of," he said in a televised address which did not refer directly to China.
Entikong and Atambua are remote Indonesian territories bordering Malaysia and East Timor respectively.
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