China expressed great concern on Thursday over the sinking of an illegal fishing boat by Indonesian authorities.
The Chinese boat was among 41 sunk by Indonesia across the archipelago on Wednesday.
"The Chinese side expresses strong -concern about the relevant report," Hong Lei, spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, told a daily news conference Thursday.
Apart from China, the Indonesian -government also sunk five boats from -Vietnam, two from Thailand and 11
from the Philippines, reports said, and some of them were blown up with dynamite.
The Jakarta Post newspaper reported the destroyed Chinese boat was detained in 2009 by the Indonesian Navy once because of insufficient documentation in the South China Sea.
"We are checking up on what has -happened and calling on the Indonesian side to make a clarification on that," Hong said.
Since assuming office in October, -Indonesian President Joko Widodo has vowed to take action against foreign -poaching, aiming to save billions of dollars in losses from illegal fishing activity.
Hong said that the cooperation in -fishing is important within the -mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Indonesia.
"We always ask the Indonesian side to advance fishery cooperation with China in a constructive attitude and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies."
Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti earlier said that the -sinking of the vessels was part of efforts to protect the country's maritime resources, the -Jarkata Post reported.
"The action was taken after legal -proceedings for the foreign vessels were completed," Susi said.
