FREE now and never miss the top politics stories again. SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up fornow and never miss the top politics stories again. We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. Please see our Privacy Notice for details of your data protection rights.

As many as 51 foreign boats were sunk by Indonesia authorities as a warning to other nations, Fisheries minister Susi Pudjiastuti said. The vessels, most of which were bearing Vietnam, Malaysia and China’s flags, will be scuttled at several different locations over the next two weeks, according to Indonesian officials. Ms Pudjiastuti claimed the use of violence was necessary to avoid further economic losses from lax regulations that gave leeway for foreign boats to fish in Indonesian waters.

The minister said: "There's no other way. "This is actually the most beautiful solution for our nation, but yes, it's scary for other countries. “If we don't act firm, they will be even more daring. “I believe these collisions will get worse one day, this will escalate.” READ MORE: South China Sea: US THREATENS to target unarmed Chinese fishing boats

Indonesia has sunk dozens of foreign boats which entered its waters today

This is not the first time Indonesia sinks and capture foreign vessels accused of entering its territorial waters. The practice was launched in 2014, following the election of president Joko Widodo, and in the past years has hit hundreds of vessels - more than half from Vietnam. After being suspended for several months, this policy was resumed in full force last month, when a Vietnamese coastguard boat rammed an Indonesian navy ship attempting to seize an illegal trawler. The member of the trawler have been arrested and remain in Indonesian custody. This comes as Indonesia is stepping up its claim on the southernmost reaches of the South China Sea.

A Vietnamese fisheries surveillance force vessel (R) is chased by Chinese ships

Two years ago, the country changed the name of the area to North Natuna Sea in a bid to assert sovereignty. In February, Indonesia unveiled plans to develop fishing grounds in the area to further deepen its claim. Remote Natuna Islands, right in gas and fish stocks, would be developed into a fishing hub, as announced by Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Pandjaitan. He said: “We would also be providing refuelling tankers for our fishing boats so no one can claim that the area is their traditional fishing zone.”

The Philippines and China are also clashing over the area