China says Indonesian navy shot at Chinese fishermen

BEIJING – China's Foreign Ministry says the Indonesian navy opened fire at a Chinese fishing boat in the South China Sea, injuring a fisherman and detaining its seven-man crew.

The statement posted Sunday on the ministry's website was in response to reports that Indonesia's navy said that it had intercepted and detained a Chinese vessel and its seven crew members for illegally fishing in Indonesian waters.

The incident happened Saturday off the Natuna islands, located off the northwest coast of Borneo, in the South China Sea. The waters in question are claimed by both China and Indonesia.

China's Foreign Ministry said the Chinese fishing boat was carrying out normal fishing operations in its traditional fishing grounds when the Indonesian navy shot at it, harming one fisherman and damaging the boat.