Jakarta: Indonesia's air force deployed four fighter jets to the South China Sea late on Tuesday in a stand-off with Beijing after Jakarta protested over a Chinese violation of its exclusive economic zone.

The stand-off began in mid-December when a Chinese coast guard vessel, accompanying Chinese fishing boats, entered waters off the coast of Indonesia's northern Natuna Islands, prompting Jakarta to summon Beijing's ambassador.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo, seen here on the way to the Natuna Islands in 2016, left for the area on Wednesday. Credit:AP

The issue has soured Indonesia's generally friendly relationship with China, its biggest trading partner and a major investor in Southeast Asia's largest country.

President Joko Widodo left for Natuna on Wednesday morning to meet with local fishermen who were earlier mobilised to help the country's navy in the area. It also deployed several navy ships.