ASEAN naval drills up in SCS Bloc's first-ever joint exercises to focus on maritime search and rescue

SOUTHEAST Asian nations have agreed to hold their first-ever joint military drills in the South China Sea, Indonesian officials said Thursday, as tensions grow over China's increasing assertiveness in the region.

"We will hold joint military drills in the North Natuna Sea [in the South China Sea]," Indonesian military chief Yudo Margono said after a meeting of Southeast Asian defence chiefs in Bali, state news agency Antara reported.

They will take place in September involving all 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) bloc and observer member TimorLeste, he said.

That would include junta-ruled Myanmar, where the military has overthrown a civilian leader and overseen a bloody crackdown on dissent that has resulted in wide-ranging US and EU sanctions.

Margono said the exercises will focus on maritime security and rescue, and will not involve combat operations.

"It is about ASEAN centrality," he said.

The bloc's members have held naval drills with the United States before but

ALL SMILES. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. gamely poses for a selfie with Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian (in blue suit), Association for PhilippinesChina Understanding chairman Raul Lambino (left) and other guests during the Award for Promoting Philippines-China Understanding ceremony on Thursday, June 8, 2023. Alfred Frias