China will send a team to Indonesia to investigate the incident when the Indonesian navy fired upon a Chinese fishing vessel on September 19, killing one Chinese fisherman and injuring two.?

The team includes representatives from the ministries of Agriculture and Foreign Affairs, the municipal government of Dalian and local government where the vessel is registered.

The vessel's owners said they would ask for compensation from Indonesia. They have sent 10,000 yuan (US$1,233) to the family of the dead fisherman, Nie Weiqiang.

China on Friday lodged solemn representations with Indonesia, demanding an early release of the detained vessel and its crew.

The incident took place at about 10:50 AM local time on September 19 in the Arafura Sea off Papua Island. The navy fired 13 shots at the Chinese fishing boat, the Fuyuan 123, killing one man and wounding two others. The surviving 10 crew members are in detention in Indonesia.

Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Shen Guofang lodged representations with the charge d'affaires of the Indonesian Embassy in China, according to a Xinhua report yesterday, quoting a press release from the Chinese Foreign Ministry issued last Friday.

Shen, on behalf of the Chinese government, expressed astonishment and strong dissatisfaction with the Indonesian navy's method of law enforcement, requesting that Indonesia verify the truth as quickly as possible and keep China informed.

Shen also requested that Indonesia try its best to provide medical aid to the wounded and release the crew and vessel as soon as possible, according to the release.

The charge d'affaires said he will convey China's concerns to the Indonesian government. The wounded fishermen have been properly looked after and the other crew members well treated, he added.

(Xinhua News Agency, China Daily September 26, 2005)