China and Indonesia conducted a joint naval exercise east of Taiwan last week, marking the first time China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) carried out a maritime drill in the area alongside a foreign navy. The exercise, which took place amid heightened regional sensitivities, has sparked discussion about whether other Southeast Asian nations may pursue similar military cooperation with Beijing.

Following the drills, officials from both countries met to explore expanding their defense collaboration as well as broader strategic issues, including food security. On Thursday, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi met alongside defense ministers Dong Jun and Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin in a so-called 2+2 format, a mechanism initiated by Indonesia in 2023 and now adopted by several ASEAN members. Wang emphasized that Indonesia remains a priority in China’s Southeast Asian foreign policy and called for closer strategic communication and coordination between the two nations.

“We will jointly oppose unilateral bullying and power politics,” Wang stated, underscoring the importance of protecting the outcomes of World War II and defending the legitimate rights of developing countries. The defense ministers held separate discussions focusing on further personnel exchanges and deeper cooperation between their respective military industries.

The joint drill took place in a strategically sensitive maritime zone east of Taiwan, an area where Chinese naval activity has intensified following Japan and the Philippines’ June announcement of negotiations to demarcate their overlapping exclusive economic zones and continental shelves. Beijing regards Taiwan as a province that must be reunified with the mainland and views such regional diplomatic moves as infringements on its sovereignty. While Taipei condemned the exercises as a “provocation,” most countries in the region, including Indonesia, Japan, and the Philippines, do not recognize Taiwan as an independent state.

Analysts note the political implications of the joint exercise, though views differ on potential long-term shifts. James Char, an assistant professor at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, suggested the drills carry “signalling value” for China but expressed skepticism that Indonesia or other ASEAN members would deviate from their usual policy of avoiding direct military involvement in the Taiwan Strait. Conversely, Harryanto Aryodiguno, an associate professor at President University in West Java, interpreted Jakarta’s participation as potentially signaling a change in ASEAN’s approach to defense relations with Beijing.

The drill and subsequent meetings highlight China's ongoing efforts to deepen its military and diplomatic ties with key Southeast Asian partners amidst evolving regional dynamics, particularly surrounding Taiwan and maritime security.