US, Indonesia hold joint military drills amid China concerns

By NINIEK KARMINI
Associated Press

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — The United States and Indonesian militaries have begun annual joint combat exercises on Indonesia’s Sumatra island, joined for the first time by participants from other partner nations, signaling stronger ties amid growing maritime activity by China in the Indo-Pacific region. More than 5,000 soldiers from the U.S., Indonesia, Australia, Japan and Singapore were participating in this year’s exercises, making them the largest since the drills were established in 2009. U.S. Gen. Charles Flynn, Commanding General of U.S. Army Pacific, and Indonesia’s Military Chief Gen. Andika Perkasa opened the joint drills with a ceremony Wednesday in Baturaja, a coastal town in South Sumatra province. The exercises will last until Aug. 14, encompassing army, navy, air force and marine drills.