Deepening Practical Cooperation in Bilateral Defense to Jointly Maintain Regional Peace and Stability: China and Indonesia's First Joint Exercise East of Taiwan Island

[Global Times Report, Journalists Guo Yuandan and Wang Qi] On the 12th, the "Eastern Theater Command" announced that on the morning of that day, the Chinese Navy's Honghe ship and the Indonesian Navy's "Lai" frigate successfully completed all scheduled exercises in the waters east of Taiwan Island, marking the conclusion of the maritime navigation drill. After arriving at the designated waters, the Honghe ship and the Indonesian Navy's "Lai" frigate formed a naval formation and conducted live drills on subjects such as maritime communication, formation movement, maritime resupply, and division ceremony. The crew of the Honghe ship skillfully used special tactical signal jargon and signal flags to communicate and convey commands with the Indonesian Navy's "Lai" frigate. Both sides flexibly maneuvered and coordinated according to the pre-determined exercise plan, successfully achieving all exercise objectives. This maritime navigation drill between China and Indonesia fully demonstrates both sides' pragmatic cooperation and positive willingness and capability to jointly maintain regional peace and stability.

According to Global Times reporters, the exercise held in the waters east of Taiwan Island by the Chinese and Indonesian navies is the first of its kind in this area, which is of significant importance. However, relevant departments in Taiwan have reacted strongly and in a panic, unfoundedly discrediting this joint exercise, claiming that the actions of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) are "dangerous behaviors that disrupt the status quo." In response, military expert Zhang Junsha, interviewed by Global Times reporters on the 12th, stated that the so-called "protests" from the Taiwan authorities instead expose their inner panic. There is only one China in the world, and Taiwan is an inseparable part of Chinese territory, a fact recognized by the international community; any "Taiwan independence" actions are destined to fail.

Zhang Junsha analyzed: "The purpose of this exercise is to clearly convey our position to the outside world: Our country has sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the exclusive economic zone east of Taiwan Island. It is completely normal and reasonable for our country to invite foreign ships to conduct training in waters under our jurisdiction. This action itself also confirms our sovereign rights and jurisdiction over these waters, which include not only the territorial sea east of Taiwan Island but also the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf."

In fact, since the so-called "maritime boundary negotiations" were initiated by the Philippines in June this year, and the Lai Ching-te administration echoed this, the Chinese Coast Guard has been conducting regular law enforcement patrols in the waters east of Taiwan Island, aiming to exercise jurisdiction according to the law and maintain national territorial sovereignty and maritime rights. At the same time, the Ministry of Transport has also carried out special law enforcement actions for maritime traffic in the eastern waters of Taiwan Island.

However, on the 11th, the Taiwan Mainland Affairs Council deliberately distorted the facts, labeling this joint exercise as "military provocation," absurdly claiming that the mainland should immediately stop its so-called "disruptive actions" and sensationalizing the mainland's recent regular law enforcement patrols in the waters east of Taiwan Island.

"The words and actions of the Taiwan authorities fully reflect their 'Taiwan independence' ideology, which also indicates that their real concern has never been genuine maritime rights." Wang Jianmin, honorary president of the Cross-Strait Research Institute at Minnan Normal University, told Global Times reporters on the 12th that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) hopes for external forces to back their "Taiwan independence" ambitions while choosing to compromise and retreat on actual maritime interests, and at the same time deliberately fabricating a false narrative of "the mainland unilaterally changing the status quo," hoping to gain more attention and support from the outside.

It is worth noting that on the 12th, the Taiwan defense department deliberately argued that the Indonesian warship participating in the joint exercise was merely "passing through the waters east of Taiwan after coming from Japan," and was not specifically conducting joint exercises with the PLA's warships. However, the Indonesian Navy stated to Reuters on the 12th that this joint navigation exercise was a routine activity conducted by its ships on their return journey after visiting Russia.

Wang Jianmin stated that for a long time, the "Taiwan independence" forces have harbored a fantasy, believing that the eastern side of Taiwan Island is a "safe buffer zone," where external forces can intervene in the Taiwan Strait from that direction. The recent exercises by the PLA and the Indonesian Navy east of Taiwan Island further squeeze the fantasies of the "Taiwan independence" forces, showcasing China's firm stance in maintaining national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and serving as a serious warning to "Taiwan independence" and external forces.