Indonesia, US Begin Expanded Exercises Amid Tensions in South China Sea

JAKARTA – The Super Garuda Shield, annual joint exercises led by the Indonesian and US militaries, kicked off in the Indonesian province of East Java on Thursday, drawing more participating countries amid rising tensions in the South China Sea.

Six countries will send troops to the Super Garuda Shield 2023: Indonesia, the United States, Japan, Australia, Singapore, and the United Kingdom. Nine others will attend as observers, according to the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI): Philippines, Brunei, East Timor, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, South Korea, Canada, France and Germany.