China, Indonesia navies to hold drills in sensitive waters to east of Taiwan
The Chinese and Indonesian navies are scheduled to conduct a joint navigation exercise in waters east of Taiwan this month. The drill focuses on communication and replenishment, occurring in a region where China frequently asserts its sovereignty claims.
Why it matters
This exercise is geopolitically significant as it involves military cooperation in a highly sensitive maritime zone, potentially signaling shifting regional alliances and China's ongoing pressure on Taiwan.
The Chinese and Indonesian navies will hold a drill together in the sensitive waters to the east of Taiwan this month, China’s defence ministry said on Tuesday (August 11, 2026), where Beijing has been seeking to assert its sovereignty claims. China views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, and in June began coast guard patrols off the island’s east coast, causing anger in Taipei and concern in Washington and some other Western capitals.
In a brief statement, China’s Defence Ministry said that in mid-August, a Chinese navy warship will conduct a joint “navigation exercise” with an Indonesian navy ship in the waters east of Taiwan, though it did not give an exact location.
“The exercise will focus on communication drills and at-sea replenishment, aiming to enhance the joint operational capabilities of the two navies, deepen practical cooperation, and jointly safeguard regional peace and stability,” it added.
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