Will other Southeast Asian countries follow Indonesia’s example with joint China drill?

China and Indonesia's recent joint naval exercise east of Taiwan has sparked speculation that other Southeast Asian countries may follow suit. The drill, which took place last Wednesday, was followed by a meeting of the foreign and defence ministers of both countries on Friday. During the meeting, they discussed further military cooperation and other topics, such as food security.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi emphasized that Indonesia is a priority for China's foreign policy in Southeast Asia, and that both countries need to strengthen strategic communication and coordination. The joint exercise, which was the People's Liberation Army's first with a foreign navy in the area, has raised concerns among Taiwan, which sees the island as an independent state and has denounced the exercise as a provocation.

However, Indonesia has downplayed the significance, describing it as a non-combat passing exercise. The exercise, which followed a model set by the 2+2 mechanism with Malaysia, Cambodia and Thailand, has prompted speculation about whether other Southeast Asian nations would follow Indonesia's lead. Analysts suggest that Indonesia's willingness to operate alongside a Chinese warship in the sensitive waters could signal a shift in how other Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) countries view defence ties with Beijing.

However, they also emphasize that Indonesia's one-China policy does not mean it endorses every Chinese maritime claim.