ASEAN’s first joint maritime military exercise moves to new location, avoiding South China Sea
The location of the ASEAN’s inaugural joint maritime military exercise, organized by Indonesia, has been relocated away from the South China Sea. According to a report by Reuters on June 22nd, the Indonesian military spokesman, Julius Viciociano, announced that the exercise, originally scheduled to take place from September 18th to 25th, will now be held in the South Natuna Sea in the Indian Ocean, starting from its initial location in North Natuna Sea, the southernmost point of the South China Sea.
Viciociano explained that the purpose of the exercise is not combat drills, hence the decision to choose a location where people can directly engage with the local communities. Furthermore, the new location also prioritizes areas prone to natural disasters. The exercise will be conducted in and around Batam, at the mouth of the Straits of Malacca.
The Indonesian military emphasized that the decision to change the location was made independently, without any interference from other countries. In addition, Cambodia and Myanmar did not respond to invitations for a preparatory meeting for the drill held in ASEAN countries on Monday.
As ASEAN’s rotating chair, Indonesia announced on June 8th that ASEAN members would hold their first joint military exercise in the South China Sea. This decision was made during a meeting of military commanders from the ten ASEAN countries in Indonesia.
Admiral Yudo Magno, the commander-in-chief of the Indonesian army, stated that the joint military exercise aims to strengthen ASEAN’s centrality and will be held in the North Natuna Sea in Indonesia in September. He clarified that the exercise does not involve any operational training.
The exercise was said to be prompted by the high risk of disasters in Asia, particularly in Southeast Asia. While some ASEAN members have previously conducted joint maritime military exercises with other countries, including the United States, this would be the first time ASEAN conducts such exercises as an independent group.
Despite ongoing reports from Chinese and American media about the “China-Vietnam and China-Philippines territorial conflict in the South China Sea,” the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has responded multiple times to the situation in the South China Sea and China-ASEAN relations. On February 22nd this year, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang and Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno co-chaired the fourth meeting of the China-Indonesia Joint Bilateral Cooperation Committee in Jakarta. Both ministers expressed their commitment to implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, accelerating consultations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, and maintaining mutual peace and stability in the region.
Qin Gang emphasized that ASEAN is a priority in China’s neighborhood diplomacy. China fully supports Indonesia in its role as the rotating presidency and the development of ASEAN as a growth center. He further emphasized the importance of avoiding a new cold war and great power competition in the Asia-Pacific region, as well as the need to prevent countries from being forced to choose sides. China trusts that ASEAN countries, including Indonesia, will make independent judgments and choices based on the fundamental interests of peace, regional stability, and development. China supports ASEAN’s strategic autonomy, unity, and self-improvement, and opposes any form of bloc politics or camp conflicts.
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The ASEAN’s first joint maritime military exercise held by Indonesia finally changed the location of the exercise and was no longer held in the South China Sea. According to a Reuters report on June 22, Indonesian military spokesman Julius Viciociano said on the 22nd that the first ASEAN maritime exercise to be held between September 18 and 25 will now start from the original North Natu, the southernmost point of the South China Sea. Natuna Sea, all transferred to the South Natuna Sea in the Indian Ocean.
He said: “The focus of this exercise is not combat drills, so the most suitable location for the exercise is the southern region where people are in direct contact with the people, and it also gives priority to areas prone to from disasters.” He also added that the exercise would be held in and around Batam, at the mouth of the Straits of Malacca.
The Indonesian military said the decision to change the location was independent and without “interference” from other countries. In addition to announcing a change of location, a spokesman for the Indonesian military said that Cambodia and Myanmar had not responded to invitations to attend a preparatory meeting for the drill in ASEAN countries on Monday.
Indonesia, the rotating chair of ASEAN, said on June 8 that ASEAN members will hold their first joint military exercise in the South China Sea. The decision was made at a meeting of military commanders from 10 ASEAN countries in Indonesia.
Admiral Yudo Magno, the commander-in-chief of the Indonesian army, said that the joint military exercise will be held in September this year in the North Natuna Sea in Indonesia. He added that the exercise, which will not include any operational training, is primarily aimed at strengthening the centrality of ASEAN.
Julius Vicciano said at the time that the exercise was linked to “a high risk of disaster in Asia, especially in Southeast Asia”. Reuters reported at the time that although some members of ASEAN had conducted joint maritime military exercises with other countries, including the United States, ASEAN had never conducted similar exercises as an independent group before.
Although Chinese and American media continue to hype the so-called “China-Vietnam and China-Philippines territorial conflict in the South China Sea” in reports, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China has responded several times to the situation in the South China Sea and China-ASEAN relations. On 22 February this year, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang and Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno co-chaired the fourth meeting of the China-Indonesia Joint Bilateral Cooperation Committee in Jakarta. Both sides said they will work with other ASEAN countries to fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, speed up consultations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, and maintain mutual peace and stability in South China Sea. South China Sea.
Qin Gang emphasized that China always regards ASEAN as a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy, fully supports Indonesia in playing its role as the rotating presidency, builds ASEAN’s growth center, and promotes the recovery of the region after the epidemic. A new cold war and great power competition should not arise in the Asia-Pacific region, and countries in the region should not be forced to choose sides. I believe that ASEAN countries including Indonesia will make independent judgments and choices based on the fundamental interests of peace , regional stability and development. China supports ASEAN’s strategic autonomy, unity and self-improvement, safeguards ASEAN’s centrality and inclusive regional architecture, and opposes bloc politics and camp conflicts.
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