TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan on Thursday condemned China for what it described as a deliberate escalation of regional tensions after Beijing announced a joint naval exercise with Indonesia in waters east of Taiwan.
China announced two days earlier that its navy had conducted navigation exercises with an Indonesian Navy frigate in mid-August in waters east of Taiwan. The drills included communications and at-sea replenishment, with the Chinese navy saying they were intended to enhance joint operational capabilities and deepen cooperation, per LTN.
However, the Indonesian Navy clarified that the activities were merely “passing-through exercises” consistent with Indonesia’s nonaligned foreign policy and were not combat exercises.
The military-focused Facebook page Taiwan ADIZ reported that the Indonesian warship, identified as the KRI I Gusti Ngurah Rai-332, departed Yokosuka, Japan, on Saturday and entered waters east and southeast of Taiwan on Tuesday before heading south.
According to the Facebook page, the vessel circumnavigated waters southeast of Taiwan and was closely monitored by the Chinese military. Based on available navigation data and observations of its movements, the warship showed no unusual behavior and turned south toward Indonesia on Wednesday evening.
Taiwan ADIZ said Taiwan’s armed forces maintained 24/7 monitoring of the airspace and waters surrounding Taiwan. The page said the Indonesian warship’s movements appeared to be a routine transit and differed from the military exercise described by China, adding that there was no reason for the public to panic.
The Indonesian Navy said its warship was returning home after completing exercises in Russia and had conducted “passing exercises” with countries along its route. Such activities are a naval tradition conducted while transiting other countries’ waters and are not combat-related, it said.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement Thursday morning strongly condemning what it called China’s “arbitrary and irresponsible behavior” in disregarding international norms and responsibilities and further escalating regional tensions, per CNA.
MOFA said that Taiwan will uphold its consistent stance of defending its territory, actively safeguarding its sovereign rights in the waters east of Taiwan. It will also work with all parties in the region to ensure freedom of navigation and regional security and stability.
