Taiwan calls planned Chinese naval drills with Indonesian warship "dangerous"

These were a, "universal naval tradition conducted when transiting through another country's maritime area," Indonesian Navy spokesperson Tunggul told Reuters, without directly mentioning China.

Late on Tuesday, Taiwan's China-policy-making Mainland Affairs Council said the drill was a "military provocation" and Beijing should, "immediately stop this dangerous behaviour that undermines the status quo."

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.