Jakarta, June 22 (Reuters) – In preparation for the upcoming ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia has decided to change the venue for ASEAN’s inaugural joint military exercise, shifting it away from the South China Sea due to conflicting territorial claims involving China and other nations. The non-combat drills, originally scheduled to be held in the southernmost waters of the South China Sea, will now take place in the South Natuna Sea within Indonesian territory, announced military spokesperson Julius Widjojono.
The decision to relocate the September 18-25 exercise was made to ensure a peaceful environment and avoid unnecessary tensions, as the drills will focus on non-combat activities. The new location around Batam island, situated at the mouth of the Malacca Strait, provides direct access for the participating nations and ensures close engagement with the local community, according to Widjojono.
ASEAN has long faced challenges to its unity due to the ongoing rivalry between China and the United States, which has manifested in territorial disputes in the South China Sea. China claims sovereignty over vast areas of the region based on its historical maps, including parts of Indonesia’s exclusive economic zone. In 2016, an international arbitration court ruled that China’s ‘nine-dash line’ claim had no legal basis.
Given the tensions and conflicting claims, ASEAN has been working towards finalizing a maritime code of conduct with China. However, several member countries, including Vietnam, the Philippines, Brunei, and Malaysia, have encountered disputes with Beijing in recent months.
Indonesia, as the current chair of ASEAN, emphasized that the decision to relocate the military drills was made independently, without any external influence. It further noted that Cambodia and Myanmar did not respond to the invitation for a preparatory meeting for the exercise held on Monday. Both countries have close ties with China.
By moving the military drills away from the South China Sea, Indonesia aims to ensure a secure and stable environment for the upcoming ASEAN Summit, fostering cooperation and unity among member nations while avoiding potential conflicts arising from overlapping territorial claims in the region.
