War Games in the Pacific: Beijing Enlists Indonesia for 'Dangerous' Drill off Taiwan's Coast

China has announced a joint navigation exercise with an Indonesian warship in mid-August, east of Taiwan. Taipei calls it a military provocation and seeks clarifications from Indonesia. The move is unusual, as China does not conduct exercises with foreign countries near Taiwan, and follows patrols by the Chinese coast guard that began in June.

China has announced that in mid-August it will hold a joint navigation exercise with an Indonesian warship, at a location east of Taiwan that was not specified. According to a Reuters report, China's Ministry of Defense said the exercise will involve a ship of the Indonesian navy. This is an unusual step, as China does not typically conduct military exercises with foreign countries near Taiwan, which it regards as an inalienable part of its sovereign territory. The move comes in the wake of patrols by the Chinese coast guard that began last June and have raised concern in Taipei, Washington, and other Western capitals. Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council described the exercise as a "military provocation" and called on Beijing to "immediately stop this dangerous behavior that undermines the status quo." In its statement, the council said this is "political manipulation, 'an exercise in name, expansion in practice,'" aimed at creating the false impression that the Chinese communists have jurisdiction over the waters east of Taiwan. Meanwhile, Taipei's foreign ministry has approached Indonesia with a request for official clarifications regarding its participation.