Taiwan Condemns China-Indonesia Military Drill, Calling It Political Manipulation

The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy of China and the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) plan to hold a joint navigation exercise in waters east of Taiwan. The planned military exercise was immediately condemned by Taiwan.

“In mid-August, the Chinese Navy vessel Honghe will join an Indonesian Navy frigate to conduct a navigation exercise in waters east of Taiwan,” China’s Ministry of National Defence stated on its website, as accessed by Antara news agency in Beijing on Wednesday.

The waters east of Taiwan are known to lie on the eastern side of the island, facing the Pacific Ocean and the Philippine Sea. The location is not near Indonesia or the South China Sea.

“The exercise will focus on a number of items, including communication drills and replenishment at sea. The activity aims to enhance the joint operational capabilities of the two countries’ navies, deepen pragmatic cooperation between the two sides, and jointly safeguard regional peace and stability,” the statement said.

The Taiwanese government, in its statement, condemned the Chinese navy’s planned exercise, which it deemed “dangerous” and which will involve an Indonesian warship off the island’s east coast.

Taiwan stated that Beijing is seeking to create a false impression in the eyes of the international community that it controls those waters.

“In reality, this is political manipulation—‘an exercise in name only, but expansion in reality’—aimed at creating a false impression before the international community that the Chinese communist party has jurisdiction over the waters east of Taiwan,” Taiwanese authorities said.

China has long viewed Taiwan, which has a democratic government, as Beijing’s territory. In June, China began conducting coast guard patrols off the island’s east coast. The move sparked anger in Taipei as well as concern in Washington and several other Western capitals.