The Chinese fleet will conduct joint exercises with Indonesia east of Taiwan, which will be another demonstration of Beijing’s claims to sovereignty in waters where tensions are increasingly rising.
The Type 054A “Honghe” frigate will conduct navigation exercises with an Indonesian Navy frigate in mid-August, China’s Ministry of Defense announced on Tuesday. The department did not specify the start and end dates of the exercises, their coordinates, or route. The Indonesian Ministry of Defense did not respond to a request for comment.
The exercises will focus on communication and replenishment at sea. They are intended to develop joint operational capabilities and maintain regional stability, according to a statement from the Chinese ministry.
The fleets of the two countries have conducted joint exercises before, but this is the first time China has publicly announced such exercises in waters east of Taiwan. This is also the first instance of Beijing’s cooperation with a foreign country in these waters.
Increasing presence and regional tension
This move could increase tensions in the region. Beijing has increased its presence in this area in response to a statement by Tokyo and Manila about their intention to hold talks to resolve their maritime disputes in this region. The waters east of Taiwan — a self-governing democracy that Beijing considers its territory — are at issue.
Since then, China has sent coast guard ships and a number of government vessels from various ministries to the area to assert its claims to these waters. Beijing has even begun inspecting foreign commercial vessels for the first time, apparently trying to demonstrate its sovereignty claims.
Beijing’s latest operation is a continuation of years of increasing Chinese activity around Taiwan. After the visit of then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taipei in 2022, China conducted large-scale military exercises around the island and made regular deployments of military ships and aircraft across the median line of the Taiwan Strait.
Taiwan has practiced breaking blockades, including during planned exercises this year to escort ships carrying oil and natural gas. Taiwanese officials have warned that a blockade of the waters around the island could lead to disruptions in energy supplies throughout the region.
The “Honghe” frigate was commissioned in 2022 as part of the Eastern Command. The Type 054A is the most numerous type of frigate in the Chinese fleet.
Source: Bloomberg
