China, Indonesia navies to hold drills east of Taiwan
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- China's Defence Ministry announced on August 11, 2026 that a Chinese navy warship will conduct a joint "navigation exercise" with an Indonesian navy ship in mid-August in the waters east of Taiwan, though no exact location was given.
- The drill will focus on communication drills and at-sea replenishment, with China's ministry saying it aims to "enhance joint operational capabilities" and "jointly safeguard regional peace and stability."
- Taiwan's defence ministry and Indonesia's navy did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the announcement.
- China began coast guard patrols off Taiwan's east coast in June, a move that drew anger in Taipei and concern in Washington and other Western capitals, according to the source.
- Indonesia has no formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan but is home to more than 300,000 Indonesian migrant workers on the island, per the article.
- China's military operates around Taiwan on an almost daily basis, and Beijing recognizes no sovereignty claims by Taiwan's government, the source notes.
- Taiwan's government maintains that only the Taiwanese people can decide their future and has repeatedly denounced Chinese military pressure.
Why it matters: The drill places Indonesia — a Southeast Asian nation with 300,000+ nationals working in Taiwan and no formal ties to Taipei — alongside China's navy in a flashpoint zone where Beijing stepped up coast guard patrols in June. Neither Jakarta nor Taipei commented, leaving the diplomatic optics — including whether this signals Jakarta tilting toward Beijing's Taiwan framing — unresolved at announcement time.
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