Archive · 12 Aug 2026
Indonesia Says Navy Exercise with China off Taiwan Routine
Two countries, China and Indonesia, decided to sail navy ships near an island called Taiwan.
China says Taiwan is part of China, but Taiwan's own government says it is separate and should decide its own future.
Indonesia says its ship was just passing through the water on its way home from Russia, and that meeting other navies along the way is a normal thing sailors do.
China says the exercise is a simple navigation drill.
Taiwan says it is a dangerous military provocation and asked China to stop.
A Taiwanese official says the exercise does not really harm Taiwan's safety.
A Chinese military expert says countries can train in waters China controls.
Indonesia has many workers living in Taiwan but no official relationship with its government.
Both China and Taiwan are upset about what the other side says and does in the sea near Taiwan.
Indonesia's navy called planned exercises with China east of Taiwan a routine "passing exercise" unrelated to "war fighting."
China's defence ministry said the mid-August drill would be the first exercise with a foreign military in those waters.
Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council branded the drill a "military provocation" and urged Beijing to stop the "dangerous behaviour."
A senior Taiwan security official said the "passex" interaction is normal and has no direct military impact on Taiwan.
China's Global Times cited expert Zhang Junshe saying the move shows China's sovereign rights over waters east of Taiwan.
- Who
- Indonesia's navy, China's defence ministry, Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council, and senior Taiwan security officials
- What
- Planned joint navy exercises between Indonesia and China east of Taiwan, described as routine by Jakarta and as a military provocation by Taipei
- When
- Reported Aug 12; drill planned for mid-August
- Where
- Waters east of Taiwan, about 70 to 80 nautical miles offshore in the Pacific
- Why
- China says it is demonstrating sovereign rights over waters east of Taiwan; Indonesia says it is a routine passing exercise while its ship returns home from Russia
Taipei's view
Beijing's view
Nature of the exercise
Taipei's view
A "military provocation" and "political manipulation" - "exercises in name, expansion in fact" - aimed at creating a false impression before the international community.
Beijing's view
An entirely normal and reasonable "navigation exercise" that shows China's sovereign rights over the waters east of Taiwan.
Jurisdiction over waters east of Taiwan
Taipei's view
China is creating a false impression that the Chinese communists have jurisdiction over waters east of Taiwan, which they do not.
Beijing's view
Inviting foreign vessels to conduct training in waters under China's jurisdiction is normal; the waters east of Taiwan fall under that jurisdiction.
Whether the exercise is routine
Taipei's view
It is dangerous and part of a recent series of Chinese actions, including so-called routine law-enforcement patrols east of Taiwan.
Beijing's view
It is a universal naval tradition when transiting through another country's maritime area, routinely done by navies of various countries.
- Planned drill period
- Mid-August
- Naval vessel
- Indonesian navy ship I Gusti Ngurah Rai
- China's description
- "Navigation exercise" with an Indonesian navy ship
- Indonesia's description
- "Passing exercise" unrelated to war fighting, on the ship's way back from Russia
- Taiwan's response
- "Military provocation"; Beijing urged to immediately stop
- Ship's location
- 70-80 nautical miles off Taiwan's east coast, in the Pacific
- Context
- Taiwan's annual Han Kuang war games underway; China began coast guard patrols off Taiwan's east coast in June
- First for China
- First drill with a foreign military in those waters