The Chinese and Indonesian navies will hold a joint navigation exercise in waters east of Taiwan this month.

China's defence ministry announced on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, that its navy will conduct a joint exercise with the Indonesian navy in waters east of Taiwan. The drills are scheduled to take place in mid-August in a region where Beijing has been actively asserting its sovereignty claims.

Scope of the Naval Exercise

The Chinese Defence Ministry described the event as a joint navigation exercise involving a Chinese warship and an Indonesian navy ship. While the ministry did not provide a specific location, it stated that the drills will focus on communication and at-sea replenishment. The stated objectives of the exercise are to enhance the joint operational capabilities of the two navies, deepen practical cooperation, and contribute to regional peace and stability.

Regional Context

China maintains that Taiwan is its own territory and conducts military operations around the island on a near-daily basis. In June, China began coast guard patrols off the east coast of Taiwan, a move that drew criticism from Taipei and raised concerns among Western officials. Indonesia does not maintain formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, though more than 300,000 Indonesian migrant workers reside on the island. Taiwan’s government continues to reject China's sovereignty claims, asserting that only the Taiwanese people can determine their future.