Taiwan Condemns Planned China-Indonesia Naval Exercise as 'Provocative'
China’s Ministry of Defence has stated that one of its warships and an Indonesian frigate will conduct a ‘joint sailing exercise’ to the east of Taiwan.
The activity is said to ‘enhance the combined operational capabilities of the two navies’ and ‘jointly safeguard peace and stability in the region’.
In response, the Taiwanese government has condemned China’s planned exercise, calling it ‘dangerous’. Taipei says Beijing is attempting to create a false impression among the international community that it controls those waters.
China regards Taiwan, which has a democratic government, as its territory. In June 2026, Beijing began coastguard patrols off the east coast of the Taipei-administered territory. The move sparked anger in Taiwan and concern in the United States and other Western countries.
On Tuesday (11/08), China’s Ministry of Defence stated that the exercise would take place in mid-August at an unspecified location east of Taiwan. The activity is a ‘navigation exercise’ with an Indonesian navy vessel. The move is considered highly unusual because China generally does not hold joint military exercises with foreign forces near Taiwan.
On Tuesday evening, Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council, the body responsible for policy towards China, stated that the exercise constituted a ‘military provocation’ and that Beijing should ‘immediately cease this dangerous behaviour that undermines the status quo’.
In its statement, the council said China is now seeking to hold joint exercises with ‘relevant countries’ in waters east of Taiwan. The move follows a series of recent Chinese actions, including activities Taiwan describes as ‘routine law enforcement patrols’ in the Taipei-administered territory.
‘This is, in fact, political manipulation, an action that is merely nominal but in reality constitutes expansion, aimed at creating a false impression before the international community that communist China has jurisdiction over the waters east of Taiwan,’ the council said.
The council also stressed that Taiwan would continue to closely monitor developments in its surrounding region and take ‘necessary and appropriate measures’.
Regarding the reported China-Indonesia joint exercise, the Reuters and AFP news agencies said there had been no response from the Indonesian Navy or Ministry of Defence.
DW Indonesia has also sought clarification from the Ministry of Defence. However, there had been no response at the time this article was published.
Taiwan is currently holding its annual Han Kuang military exercises, in which it simulates how to repel a Chinese attack.
China’s announcement came as US Deputy Under Secretary of Defence for Policy Elbridge Colby met Indonesian Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin in Jakarta on Tuesday (11/08).
Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin told Colby that expanded defence cooperation was not aimed at establishing US military bases in Indonesia, according to a statement from Indonesia’s Ministry of Defence.
China does not recognise the Taiwanese government’s sovereignty claims, and Beijing’s military operates almost daily around Taipei.
Like most countries, Indonesia has no formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, but the island is home to more than 300,000 Indonesian migrant workers.
Taipei says only the Taiwanese people can decide their future and has repeatedly condemned China’s military pressure.