China-Indonesia naval drill near Taiwan highlights Asean’s difficult balancing act

China and Indonesia are set to hold a joint naval exercise in waters east of Taiwan this month, bringing an Asean member into a military activity at a time when Beijing is facing growing tensions with several countries in the region.

China’s Defence Ministry said a Chinese warship and an Indonesian navy vessel will conduct a joint navigation exercise in the area.

The drill will include communication exercises and at-sea replenishment, with Beijing saying the aim is to improve coordination between the two navies and promote regional stability.

The location of the exercise is significant. China has stepped up its maritime activity around Taiwan and has been asserting its sovereignty claims in waters around the island.

Beijing considers Taiwan part of China, while Taipei rejects Chinese sovereignty claims and says its future can only be decided by its people.

Indonesia drill comes amid Asean tensions

The China-Indonesia exercise also carries a wider regional significance because both countries are major players in Southeast Asia, while Indonesia and the Philippines are members of Asean.

The drill comes shortly after another confrontation involving China and the Philippines in the disputed South China Sea.

Near Second Thomas Shoal, Chinese and Philippine maritime personnel were involved in a physical confrontation that left a Philippine sailor injured. Manila and Beijing blamed each other for the incident.

The clash added pressure to Asean discussions on regional security and the long-delayed negotiations between China and Asean over a code of conduct for the South China Sea.

For Indonesia, the latest naval exercise shows the complicated position Asean countries face. Many governments want stronger security ties with major powers while also trying to avoid being drawn into the strategic rivalry between China and the United States.

China seeks closer ties with Asean powers

The exercise could also be viewed as part of Beijing’s broader effort to deepen military and diplomatic engagement with Southeast Asian countries.

Indonesia does not have formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, like most countries, but more than 300,000 Indonesian migrant workers live on the island. At the same time, Jakarta maintains important economic and diplomatic ties with Beijing.

China has increasingly used military and maritime engagements to strengthen its regional presence. Its coast guard has also expanded patrols east of Taiwan, an area where Beijing has sought to reinforce its territorial claims.

Asean faces a difficult balancing act

The China-Indonesia drill does not necessarily indicate that Jakarta is aligning itself with Beijing. Instead, it underlines how Asean countries are attempting to maintain room for manoeuvre as tensions rise across the Indo-Pacific.

The Philippines has taken a more confrontational position towards China over disputed waters, while Indonesia has generally sought to protect its interests without becoming part of the US-China rivalry.

That difference is important for Asean, which operates through consensus. As maritime confrontations increase, individual members may have very different calculations about China, the United States and regional security.

The China-Indonesia exercise therefore comes at a sensitive moment. While Beijing can present it as routine naval cooperation, its timing and location underscore a broader reality: Asean countries are increasingly being forced to balance economic ties with China, security concerns and their desire to retain strategic autonomy.