ASEAN's First Joint Military Exercise in South China Sea.

ASEAN will hold its first-ever joint military exercise in the South China Sea, hosted by Indonesia in the North Natuna Sea, aimed at strengthening "ASEAN centrality". The exercise will not include any combat operations training and is related to the "high risk of disaster in Asia, especially Southeast Asia." China has competing claims with four ASEAN members in the South China Sea, and the region has seen constant tension as China presses its claims with a huge deployment of coast guard and fishing boats.