Taiwan Outraged as Indonesia-China Naval Drill Dubbed 'Non-Combat' Exercise

China’s plan to conduct a joint naval exercise with Indonesia off the eastern coast of Taiwan has drawn sharp criticism. Taiwan has condemned the move, accusing China of creating a false impression that it holds jurisdiction over the area.

China’s Ministry of National Defence announced on Tuesday that one of its warships and an Indonesian frigate would conduct a ‘sailing exercise’ east of Taiwan in mid-August. The ministry stated the drill aimed to ‘enhance the joint operational capabilities of the two navies and jointly safeguard regional peace and stability’.

Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council, the top policy body dealing with China, condemned the planned military exercise. The council said it ‘strongly condemns the CCP’s military provocations’, referring to the Chinese Communist Party. ‘This move, in fact… aims to create a false impression for the international community that the CCP has jurisdiction over the waters east of Taiwan and blatantly violates our national sovereignty and maritime rights and interests,’ the council said in a statement.

The Chinese announcement came as Taiwan was conducting its largest annual military exercises, aimed at preparing the population for a potential invasion by China. Beijing routinely deploys warships, fighter jets, and coast guard vessels around Taiwan to assert its sovereignty claims.

The Indonesian Navy clarified the nature of the exercise. Head of the Navy Information Service, First Admiral Tunggul, stated that the planned activity was not a war-fighting drill but a universal naval tradition. ‘The passing exercise being conducted is not war-fighting in nature, but a universal navy tradition when transiting through a country’s waters,’ he said.

According to a press release from the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Indonesian warship KRI I Gusti Ngurah Rai (GNR)-332 had previously arrived in Vladivostok, Russia, on 23 July 2026 to participate in the ORRUDA joint exercise with the Russian Navy. First Admiral Tunggul explained that during the warship’s voyage from Vladivostok back to Indonesia, passing exercises would be conducted with countries along the route. He stressed that the exercise was a form of diplomatic cooperation in the maritime domain and that Indonesia’s free and active foreign policy allowed for cooperation with any country, including joint exercises.