Indonesia has announced its largest air force exercise to pound into China's head the message it exclusively owns the Natuna Islands Archipelago, and that China's allegation it has overlapping claims to this region because of its illegal nine-dash line belongs to the trash heap of history.

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Two months ago, Indonesia burned Chinese fishing vessels and vessels from other countries caught illegally fishing in the waters of its Natuna Islands.

The Indonesian Air Force (IAF) will send its Sukhoi Su-27SKM multi-role fighters; its Su-30MK2 long-range strike fighters and its General Dynamics F-16 air superiority fighters to patrol the skies above the Natunas, the equivalent of an aerial "Do Not Enter" sign to China.

Over 2,000 IAF personnel will take part in the exercise.

"We want to show our existence in the area. We have a good enough air force to act as a deterrent," said Jemi Trisonjaya, IAF spokesman.

Indonesia has always strongly objected to claiming the waters around the Natunas are within its nine-dash line outlawed by the Permanent Court of Arbitration last July 12.

Indonesia sank 60 foreign fishing boats during its Independence Day on Aug. 17 in a dramatic message to China and neighboring countries to stop illegal fishing in Indonesian waters.

Susi Pudjiastuti, Indonesia's Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, said the ships were sunk near eight islands to create artificial reefs. In contrast, Indonesia blew-up captured ships in 2014 and 2015 to send a chilling message to their countries of origin. Malaysia also turns sunken foreign fishing vessels into artificial reefs.

The mass sinkings across Indonesia reinforce Indonesian President Joko Widodo's vow to get tough on foreign boats fishing unlawfully in waters within the country's exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Indonesia also sank several Chinese boats captured off the Natuna Islands archipelago and elsewhere.

Many of the boats were seized off the Natunas where Indonesia's EEZ extends into the South China Sea.

China claims ownership of the Natunas based on its illegal "nine-dash line." The Permanent Court of Tribunal in The Hague ruled that China has no legal basis to claim historic rights within the nine-dash line in the South China Sea.

It also said none of the land features in the Spratlys meet the criteria for an island that China -- or any other country -- can use to claim a 200-nautical-mile EEZ.

The case filed by the Philippines has been labeled a "sweeping victory" against China.

In 2015, also on its Independence Day, Indonesia sank 41 fishing vessels from China, Vietnam, the Philippines and other nations after Widodo promised to get tough on illegal fishing in Indonesian waters by foreign fishing vessels, especially those from China.

TagsIndonesia, Indonesian Air Force, air force exercise, Natuna Islands archipelago, china, nine dash line