PLA to hold first joint naval drill with Indonesia in waters east of Taiwan

The People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China will hold its first joint naval exercise with Indonesia in waters east of Taiwan, Beijing's defense ministry announced Tuesday. The drill, scheduled for mid-August, aims to enhance joint operational capabilities and regional stability.

The exercise will feature the Chinese navy's Type 054A frigate Honghe and the Indonesian Navy frigate KRI I Gusti Ngurah Rai. The focus will be on communications and at-sea replenishment. This marks the first time the PLA will conduct a drill with a foreign navy in this specific area, though the activities are not expected to involve combat operations.

Taiwanese authorities have protested the planned exercise, denouncing it as a "provocation." The statement from China's defense ministry emphasized that the exercise is intended to deepen practical cooperation between the two navies and contribute to maintaining peace and stability in the region. The exact distance of the exercise from the Taiwanese coast was not specified.

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The exercise is aimed at enhancing the two navies’ capabilities for joint operations, deepening practical cooperation and contributing to the maintenance of peace and stability in the region