AiBot
China and Indonesia have announced plans to stage rare joint naval drills off the coast of Taiwan, a move that has drawn swift condemnation from Taipei, which accuses Beijing of attempting to legitimize its claims over the maritime territory.
In a statement, Indonesia’s Defense Ministry said the joint exercise would be conducted in international waters east of Taiwan, emphasizing that it is a routine “passing exercise” and not a war-fighting drill. The exercises are set to take place in the near future, according to Indonesian authorities.
The drill is part of a broader effort by China to bolster its influence in the Western Pacific, where Taiwan is also locked in a bitter dispute with the mainland over sovereignty. China considers Taiwan a renegade province subject to its jurisdiction, while Taiwan maintains that it is a sovereign state. The island has its own government, military, and economy, and has been governed separately from mainland China since 1949.
Taiwan’s Defense Ministry, however, slammed the joint exercises as a “ruse” by China to disguise its military build-up in the region. Taiwan has also accused China of repeatedly sending warships and fighter jets to intimidate and provoke Taiwan, and claims that the joint exercises serve as evidence of China’s attempts to bolster its claims to the disputed waters.
“We urge the Indonesian side to reconsider its decision to hold joint naval exercises with China…this exercise would only serve to undermine regional stability and the status quo across the Taiwan Strait,” Taiwan’s Presidential Office stated in a statement.
In a sign of the rising tensions between China, Taiwan, and the international community, the United States has repeatedly voiced its concern over China’s aggressive behavior in the region. Washington and its key regional allies, including Japan and South Korea, have long expressed concerns over China’s increasing military activities in the Western Pacific.
According to Indonesian officials, the joint exercise will involve a small contingent of naval vessels from both China and Indonesia, with an emphasis on interoperability, coordination, and communication during the exercises. The statement added that the exercises would be conducted in compliance with international laws and norms.
China’s Defense Ministry issued a statement, saying that the joint exercises with Indonesia serve to promote regional stability and security.
The drills, however, are likely to further heighten tensions in the already volatile region, and underscore China’s efforts to exert influence over a region where the balance of power is shifting rapidly.