In the midst of regional tensions with China, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) plans to hold its first joint military exercise, which will be held in the South Natuna Sea.
Quoting information from the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), at the 20th ASEAN Armed Forces Commanders’ Meeting in Bali on June 7, ten ASEAN military commanders agreed to carry out routine joint exercises and coordinated patrols in the waters of the South China Sea. The drills will involve the Army, Navy and special forces from Sept. 18-25, although Cambodia is skeptical of the plan.
The training location was moved as several ASEAN member states are in dispute with Beijing over territorial claims in the resource-rich South China Sea, Reuters reported.
“This exercise does not focus on combat, so it is most suitable for the southern region which has direct contact with the community,” said the Head of the TNI Information Center (Kapuspen) Rear Admiral Julius Widjojono. The exercise will be held on and around Batam Island which is in the waters of the Malacca Strait, a strategic world trade route.
On Monday (19/6), the TNI met with ASEAN military delegations in Jakarta to discuss preparations for the exercise, including scenarios, equipment to be used and training locations, according to a military press release.
The ASEAN military exercise, called Solidarity, will be held when China asserts its claim over the South China Sea region which is also claimed by a number of ASEAN countries such as Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and the Philippines. This year, Indonesia became the Chair of ASEAN.
“China believes that defense and security cooperation between countries should be conducive to regional peace and stability. They must not escalate tensions or undermine trust between countries, let alone target any third parties,” a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, Liu Pengyu, told VOA on June 12.
Cambodia and Myanmar, two ASEAN members that maintain close ties with China, did not participate in the planning discussions on Monday, according to TNI information center staffer Rudy Hernawan.
Mohamad Rosyidin, international relations observer from Diponegoro University in Semarang, Central Java, said that the military training location in the South China Sea may have prevented the participation of several ASEAN countries.
Cambodian General Vong Pisen, Commander of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, issued a statement earlier this month saying that Phnom Penh had set up a working group to study joint exercise proposals before seeking approval to participate from the Defense Ministry.
Rosyidin said he was not sure Cambodia would participate in the drills, given the country’s close relationship with China.
China says most of the South China Sea, or about 90 percent of the 3 million square kilometer South China Sea, lies within the “nine-dash line” which it regards as its maritime boundary.
responded to Beijing’s claims in the South China Sea by pledging to protect and preserve the shared rules-based maritime order with ASEAN and the East Asia Summit.
“The People’s Republic of China failed to advance a lawful and coherent maritime claim in the South China Sea (SCS), and the United States therefore rejects all PRC maritime claims within Indonesia’s exclusive economic zone,” a US State Department spokesperson said in an email to VOA on Monday. Tuesday.
“Freedom of the seas and compliance with international law in the South China Sea are of vital importance to the entire international community, including international organizations such as ASEAN,” the spokesperson said.
“Together we seek the protection and preservation of respect for international law, lawful unhindered trade, and freedom of navigation and overflight and other lawful uses of the sea.”
In the past, ASEAN countries have participated in naval exercises with other nations, including the United States and China. But the exercise, which will be held in September, will be the first to involve just the block.
Although some may see the exercise as a signal to China, TNI Commander Admiral Yudo Margono implied that the exercise would not be a show of ASEAN military might.
“ASEAN is not a defense pact,” said Admiral Yudo Margono at a press conference in Bali on June 6.
“The exercise will focus on disaster relief issues, search and rescue activities, and continue with community service. TNI hopes to work together (with ASEAN countries) to create regional security. If we can achieve security and stability in this region, we can guarantee air and sea trade routes that will ensure people’s welfare.”
Rear Admiral Widjojono said the military drills were associated with “a high disaster risk in Asia, especially Southeast Asia.”
“Joint military exercises will be a great opportunity for Southeast Asian militaries to better mitigate natural disasters and improve their disaster preparedness,” he said. “So when a disaster occurs in one country, their neighbors can offer their help more quickly.”
Source : VOA News
