Taiwan condemns 'dangerous' planned Chinese navy drill w/ Indonesia to its east

Taiwan's government has condemned "dangerous" planned Chinese navy drills with an Indonesian warship off the island's east coast, saying Beijing was trying to create a false impression to the international community that it controls those waters.



China views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, and in June began coast guard patrols off the island's east coast, causing anger in Taipei and concern in Washington and some other Western capitals.



China's defence ministry said on Tuesday the drill, to take place in mid-August at a location east of Taiwan it did not detail, would be a "navigation exercise" with an Indonesian navy ship, a highly unusual move given China does not generally hold exercises with foreign militaries near Taiwan.



Late on Tuesday, Taiwan's China-policy-making Mainland Affairs Council said the drill was a "military provocation" and Beijing should "immediately stop this dangerous behaviour that undermines the status quo."



Following a recent series of Chinese actions, including so-called "routine law-enforcement patrols" to the east of Taiwan, China is now attempting to conduct military exercises with "relevant countries" in waters east of Taiwan, it said in a statement.