Close to 7,000 troops from 10 countries, including Canada, Indonesia, and the U.S., are taking part in a series of military exercises across Indonesia over the next two weeks.
The Super Garuda Shield exercises will feature cyber training for the first time and focus principally on “airborne operations, joint strikes, an amphibious exercise, and simulated land operations.”
This year, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, and South Korea are participating in Super Garuda Shield. Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Papua New Guinea are observer nations.
The training exercise was first held by the U.S. and Indonesia in 2007, expanding two years later to bring in participants from other countries.
Seas stay choppy as clashes continue
North of the shallow Java Sea lie the contested waters of the South China Sea, where, on Sunday, another clash between China and the Philippines dashed any hopes for a de-escalation between the two countries.
Two days later, the head of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said that Washington would be open to escorting Philippine ships through the South China Sea, likely raising tensions further and roiling Beijing.
