Chinese boats cross Indian and ASEAN ships during military exercise
Context
Boats from a Chinese maritime militia recently approached an area where the Navies of India and ASEAN countries were taking part in drills in the South China Sea.
Key-highlights:
According to a Vietnamese independent analyst, Beijing appeared to be deploying the militia to frighten and disrupt the naval drill.
The two-day sea phase of the ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise (AIME 2023) was attended by navy ships and aircraft from India, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Brunei.
When the Chinese boats approached them, they were in the Vietnamese Exclusive Economic Zone.
A Chinese research vessel was also heading in the same direction as these boats.