Taiwan condemns ‘dangerous’ planned Chinese navy drill with Indonesia

Taiwan's government has denounced China's planned navy drills with an Indonesian warship as "dangerous," alleging that Beijing is attempting to deceive the world about its control over surrounding waters. China has been conducting coast guard patrols off Taiwan's east coast since June, raising tensions in Taipei and sparking concern in Washington and other Western capitals.

On Tuesday, China's defence ministry announced the drill, set to occur in mid-August in an unspecified location east of Taiwan. The exercise would involve an Indonesian navy ship, a rare move for China, which typically does not collaborate with foreign militaries near the island. In response, Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council labeled the drill a "military provocation" and called for Beijing to cease its "dangerous behavior" that undermines the status quo.

The council's statement came following a series of Chinese actions, including "routine law-enforcement patrols" east of Taiwan, which Taipei views as increasingly aggressive. China claims it is merely conducting military exercises in collaboration with relevant countries in waters east of Taiwan, but Taiwan's government maintains that these actions are political manipulation aimed at creating a false impression of Chinese jurisdiction over the region.

Taiwan's government pledged to monitor the situation closely, take necessary measures, and defend its sovereignty and the stability of the Taiwan Strait. Meanwhile, Indonesia's navy has yet to comment on the planned drills. Unlike most countries, Indonesia maintains no formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan but is home to over 300,000 Indonesian migrant workers. Taiwan insists that only the Taiwanese people can determine their future and has consistently denounced Chinese military pressure.