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Defense chiefs of ASEAN countries agree to hold joint exercises in the East Sea

Jun 08, 2023

Beijing [China], June 8: At the 20th ASEAN Defense Chiefs Meeting (ACDFM-20) taking place on the island of Bali (Indonesia), the defense chiefs of ASEAN countries agreed that they will hold joint exercises in September next year. Natuna Islands in the south of the South China Sea , according to NHK.
The Commander of the Indonesian Armed Forces, Admiral YudoMargono, emphasized the importance of the South China Sea.
"ASEAN must be united and united, so that we can all agree on the security and stability of the region. If the region is stable, the shipping lanes are safe, the flights are safe and of course, there will be prosperity," admiral Margono emphasized.
Earlier, the coast guard forces of the Philippines, the United States and Japan held a joint exercise on June 6 in the South China Sea off the Bataan peninsula, west of Manila, according to Kyodo News. This is part of the first trilateral maritime exercise by the Philippines, the United States and Japan that began on June 1.
Meanwhile, Indonesia has held naval exercises near Sulawesi island since June 5, with the participation of 36 countries, including the US, China and Russia. Indonesia's official foreign policy is to take sides and keep the balance between the great powers.
Source: ThanhNien Newspaper