China plans to hold a joint navy drill with Indonesia in mid-August east of Taiwan, involving one Chinese warship and one Indonesian frigate operating in waters claimed by both Taiwan and China [1, 2, 3, 4]. The drill, described by China as a 'passage exercise' to enhance joint operational capabilities and regional peace, is unusual as China seldom conducts exercises with foreign militaries near Taiwan [1, 2, 3, 4].
Taiwan strongly condemned the drill, calling it a military provocation and political manipulation designed to create a false impression of Chinese jurisdiction over waters east of Taiwan. The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said the drill "infringes upon Taiwan’s sovereignty and maritime rights" and called it "exercises in name, expansion in fact" aimed at misleading the international community about Chinese claims [1, 2, 4]. A MAC statement described the drill as "blatantly infringing upon our national sovereignty and maritime rights and interests" and "political manipulation" [1, 2].
Taiwan has formally asked Indonesia for clarification on its participation, but Indonesia’s military and defense ministry have not commented publicly on the matter [1, 2, 4]. Taiwan military intelligence official Wu Tien-jen said the Indonesian warship involved was returning from Japan and not specifically deployed for the drill. He said, "Militarily this does not have a direct impact on Taiwan. It has a geopolitical significance" [2]. The Indonesian warship is reported to be approximately 70-80 nautical miles off Taiwan’s east coast [2].
The announcement comes as Taiwan holds its largest military exercises this year, training to respond to a potential Chinese invasion [1, 4]. Since June, China has increased maritime and coast guard patrols in the area east of Taiwan, which Taipei views as provocative and disguised expansionism [1, 2, 4]. China’s Guangdong Maritime Safety Administration also imposed traffic controls for the Taiwan Strait ahead of Typhoon Dolphin, which Taiwan criticized as trampling international norms [4].
China’s defense ministry announced the planned drill on August 11. Taiwan issued its condemnation on August 12, emphasizing the exercise’s infringement on its sovereignty and regional stability [1, 2, 3, 4]. The drill is expected to take place in mid-August, with Taiwan continuing to monitor developments closely.
