Taiwan condemns China-Indonesia drill off east coast

Taiwan condemned China's plan to hold a naval passage exercise with Indonesia east of Taiwan in mid-August, saying Beijing was trying to create the impression that it has jurisdiction over waters off the island's east coast.

China's defence ministry said Tuesday that a Chinese warship and an Indonesian frigate would conduct the exercise to improve the two navies' joint operational capabilities and help safeguard regional peace and stability.

Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council said late Tuesday that it “strongly condemned” what it called a Chinese Communist Party military provocation. The council said the planned exercise infringed Taiwan's sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.

The Indonesian military did not immediately respond to AFP's request for comment.

China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and says it has authority over waters around the island. Taiwan rejects those claims.

The announcement came as Taiwan holds its largest annual military drills, aimed at preparing its population for a potential Chinese invasion. Beijing also sends warships, fighter jets and coast guard vessels around Taiwan on an almost daily basis to assert its sovereignty claim.

In June, Chinese ships began patrolling a Western Pacific area near Taiwan's east coast, which Taipei called provocative and “expansionism in disguise.” During that operation, the China Coast Guard for the first time radioed cargo ships passing Taiwan to ask about their crews and destinations.

Last week, China's Guangdong Maritime Safety Administration announced traffic control measures for the Taiwan Strait as Typhoon Dolphin moved toward the region. Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council called that order a breach of international norms and “utterly ridiculous.”