8-6-2023 (JAKARTA) In response to escalating tensions surrounding China’s growing assertiveness in the region, Southeast Asian nations have reached an agreement to hold their first-ever joint military drills in the South China Sea, as announced by Indonesian officials on Thursday (Jun 8).
The military chief of Indonesia, Yudo Margono, stated that the joint military exercises will take place in the North Natuna Sea. Following a meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) defence chiefs in Bali, Margono confirmed that the drills are scheduled for September and will involve all 10 member nations of ASEAN, as well as observer member Timor-Leste, as reported by the state news agency Antara.
Notably, this joint military exercise will even include Myanmar, which is currently under the control of a military junta that has ousted a civilian leader and has been criticized for its brutal crackdown on dissent, leading to extensive sanctions from the United States and the European Union.
Margono emphasized that the drills will primarily focus on maritime security and rescue operations, emphasizing that combat operations will not be part of the exercises.
He further explained, “It is about ASEAN centrality,” highlighting the importance of ASEAN’s central role in the region.
While ASEAN members have previously conducted naval drills with the United States, this marks the first time they will be organizing military exercises as a bloc independently.
