Chinese boats cross Indian and ASEAN ships during military exercise

Contact Counsellor

Last Updated10/05/2023

Boats belonging to a Chinese maritime militia approached an area where the Navies of India and ASEAN countries were taking part in drills in the South China Sea
Beijing appeared to be using the militia to intimidate and disrupt the naval exercise.

The two-day sea phase of the ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise (AIME 2023) began with naval ships and aircraft from India, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia and Brunei taking part.
They were in the Vietnamese Exclusive Economic Zone when the Chinese boats moved towards them
However, the militia boats and naval vessels crossed each other without any face-off

The South China Sea issue has been long prevailing between China and other countries surrounding the sea.
China has built a mini-city with runways, hangars and surface-to-air-missiles in the Subi Reef about 25 km from Thitu.
Countries party to this dispute are: China, Brunei, Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia etc.
China claims almost the entirety of the resource-rich sea, and was accused by the United States of efforts to “intimidate and provoke others” by parking its vessels near the Whitsun Reef.
China’s claim to the sea is based both on the Law of the Sea Convention and its so-called nine-dash line.
This line extends for 2,000 Km from the Chinese mainland, encompassing over half of the sea.
Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have competing claims to various islands and features in the area.

Natural Resources: The Sea is said to be a major source of natural resources for the different territories.
- It is a source of about 10 percent of the country’s fishery, which makes it an essential source of food for hundreds of people.
- This is also a major reason why people from different countries are claiming their rights over the sea.
Trade Route: The route passing through it, Malacca Strait is home to 55% of the trade.
- It is one of the busiest routes for trade.