China’s planned naval exercise with Indonesia in waters east of Taiwan has drawn strong criticism from Taipei, which called the move a dangerous military provocation. Taiwan said Beijing is using the planned drill to create a false impression that it has control over waters around the island. The exercise is expected to take place in mid-August at an unspecified location east of Taiwan.

China’s Defence Ministry announced on Tuesday that its navy would conduct a “navigation exercise” with an Indonesian navy ship. Such a drill is unusual, as China does not normally conduct military exercises with foreign forces near Taiwan. The Indonesian navy and defence ministry did not respond to requests for comment on the planned exercise.

Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council criticised the move late on Tuesday. It said Beijing should stop what it described as dangerous behaviour that could undermine the existing situation around Taiwan. The council said China has recently increased its activities in waters east of the island, including what Beijing describes as routine law-enforcement patrols.

Following a recent series of Chinese actions, including so-called "routine law-enforcement patrols" to the east of Taiwan, China is now attempting to conduct military exercises with "relevant countries" in waters east of Taiwan, it said in a statement.

"This is, in reality, political manipulation, 'exercises in name, expansion in fact', aimed at creating a false impression before the international community that the Chinese communists have jurisdiction over waters east of Taiwan," it added.

Taiwan said these activities are part of a wider effort by Beijing to strengthen its presence in the waters surrounding the island. The government in Taipei has repeatedly opposed Chinese military and maritime pressure. It maintains that Taiwan’s future can only be decided by its people.

Taiwanese lawmakers also questioned the military significance of the planned exercise. Wu Tien-jen, assistant deputy chief of the general staff for intelligence, said the Indonesian warship involved in the exercise was returning from Japan. He said the vessel was not travelling specifically to take part in the Chinese drill.

Wu said the Indonesian ship was around 70 to 80 nautical miles from Taiwan in the Pacific. He said the exercise did not pose a direct military threat to Taiwan but carried wider geopolitical importance.

"Militarily this does not have a direct impact on Taiwan," he said. "It has a geopolitical significance."

The development comes as Taiwan conducts its annual Han Kuang military exercises. The drills are designed to simulate how Taiwan would respond to and repel a possible Chinese attack. The timing of China’s announcement has added to concerns in Taipei as the island continues its defence preparations.

China’s announcement also came on the same day that U.S. Under Secretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby met Indonesian Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin in Jakarta. The meeting focused on defence cooperation between Indonesia and the United States.

Sjafrie told Colby that Indonesia’s growing defence cooperation with Washington was not intended to establish a U.S. military base in the country, according to his office. Indonesia has maintained a careful position on regional security issues while continuing defence ties with major powers.

China considers Taiwan part of its territory and does not recognise claims of sovereignty made by Taiwan’s government. Chinese military forces operate around the island almost daily. Beijing has also increased maritime activities near Taiwan in recent months, including patrols east of the island.

Taiwan has its own democratically elected government and rejects Beijing’s territorial claims. Taipei has repeatedly said that only the people of Taiwan have the right to determine the island’s future.

Indonesia, like most countries, does not maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan. However, the two sides have significant people-to-people links. More than 300,000 Indonesian migrant workers live and work in Taiwan.

The planned China-Indonesia naval activity is therefore being closely watched in Taipei. Taiwan sees the exercise as more than a routine military activity. While its military does not currently view the drill as a direct threat, officials believe the exercise could have political and strategic implications. The move also comes at a sensitive time, with Taiwan conducting major war games and China continuing its military and maritime operations around the island.