Jakarta, Aug. 13 -- Foreign Affairs Ministry has affirmed that the joint exercise between the Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) and the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy is part of maritime diplomacy and bilateral defense cooperation.

"For Indonesia, such interaction is part of maritime diplomacy. The sea is not merely a space connecting nations, but also a realm for building cooperation and mutual trust," said Spokesperson Yvonne Mewengkang during a media briefing in Jakarta on Thursday.

She noted that the "passing exercise" conducted by the Indonesian warship KRI I Gusti Ngurah Rai-332 and the Chinese naval vessel Honghe is a standard practice among navies worldwide when warships traverse the waters of other nations.

The spokesperson emph...