Indonesia Is the Latest Country to Validate China’s Claim to Taiwan – Unwittingly or Not
From Indonesia to Africa and Oceania, China is enlisting foreign countries to support its increasingly strict interpretation of the One China principle.
On August 12, China's People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) carried out a joint navigation exercise with an Indonesian Navy warship in the east of Taiwan waters. This marked the first time China had allied with a foreign military in these sensitive geopolitical waters. Taiwan's authorities criticized the exercise, stating it was a political maneuver to imply Chinese jurisdiction over the area.
The United States also urged China to cease its military pressure against Taiwan. Chinese state media, however, framed the exercise as proof of China's sovereignty over the region. The Global Times claimed it was "of great significance," highlighting its first-of-its-kind nature and demonstration of China's jurisdiction. Beijing had increased its operational presence in these waters, sending Coast Guard vessels to patrol the disputed area starting in June.
The exercise was part of a broader strategy to assert China's jurisdiction, with state media linking the drill directly to Indonesia's Navy. Jakarta downplayed the significance, referring to it as routine, and highlighted Indonesia's "free and active" foreign policy. This incident is seen as part of a trend where China leverages foreign countries to support its strict interpretation of the One China principle.
Written by urgent.news from The Diplomat's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
