China and the U.S. decided to participate in Indonesia's 2023 MNEK (Multilateral Naval Exercise Komodo).
This is quite surprising since the military tensions between the U.S. government and China are ongoing. Before the Komodo naval exercise happened, numerous risky encounters between the United States and China happened.
One of these is when the U.S. military blamed a Chinese warship for an unsafe interaction with a U.S. destroyer, as well as a Canadian frigate in the Taiwan Strait.
Aside from this, China also carried out an aggressive air force interception maneuver over the South China Sea. Despite all these tensions, the Chinese and U.S. government still supported Indonesia's 2023 MNEK.
China, US Joins Indonesia's Komodo Navy Drill Despite Ongoing Tensions
According to The South China Morning Post, Indonesia invited 36 nations to participate in its 2023 Komodo naval exercise, which is off South Sulawesi.
In this handout provided by the U.S. Navy, the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) transits the Sunda Strait on April 14, 2017, in Indonesia. The Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group is on a scheduled western Pacific deployment as part of the U.S. Pacific Fleet-led initiative to extend the command and control functions of the U.S. 3rd Fleet.
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The 2023 MNEK began on Monday, June 5, and lasted until Thursday, June 8. More than 40 vessels owned by the 36 nations appeared during the Komodo Navy drill.
Indonesian officials said that they prepared icebreakers for the guests, as well as medical training and an international maritime security symposium.
Other recreational activities included concerts and city tours. Based on the published photos, Chinese sailors had a fun time; enjoying snorkeling and taking part in international cooking competitions.
American navy personnel also enjoyed the 2023 MNEK of Indonesia. Both of these rival countries participated since they wanted to support Indonesia.
However, experts clarified that the participation of the U.S. and China in Indonesia's 2023 MNEK doesn't mean that the tensions between them are easing.
"Everything was coordinated by the hosts, and the Chinese and US navies did not really need to have much direct engagement, and given the overall situation, I doubt they would want to," said Lei Xiao, one of the officers included in the MNEK.
What is 2023 MNEK?
DVIDS explained that the 2023 MNEK of Indonesia is the first iteration of its Komodo navy exercise since 2018.
The theme of this MNEK was "Partnership to Recover and to Rise Stronger." Unlike other naval exercises, MNEK promotes non-warfighting aspects of operational-level exercises.
If you want to learn more about it, just click this link.
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