The joint exercises were initially slated for the North Natuna Sea where Beijing’s ships occasionally patrol. Read more at straitstimes.com.
JAKARTA – The Association of South-east Asian Nations has moved its first-ever joint drills, Indonesia’s military said on Tuesday, edging them away from waters disputed by China.
When confronted by Jakarta, China has invoked the so-called nine-dash line, which demarcates an area it claims to have historic rights over but is contested by its neighbours. Asean’s drills will now take place in the South Natuna Sea between Sept 18 and 25, Indonesia’s military said in a statement, avoiding the contested waters.
The decision to do so came at a planning conference between rotating Asean chair Indonesia and “several Asean counterparts”, the military said, without disclosing which countries attended or abstained.
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