China and Indonesia conducted a joint naval exercise east of Taiwan on Aug. 12, marking the first time Beijing’s military has held a drill with a foreign navy in waters east of the island, according to Chinese state media Xinhua News Agency.
The exercise comes as the Chinese military has increasingly expanded its naval and maritime activities beyond the first island chain, raising concerns that Beijing is seeking to establish a more sustained military presence deeper in the Western Pacific.
The state media report said that the Chinese navy’s Honghe frigate conducted a “navigation exercise” with an Indonesian frigate in waters east of Taiwan. The drill included communications exercises and at-sea replenishment….
China, Indonesia Hold First Naval Drill East of Taiwan, Signaling Push Into Western Pacific
