China plans to hold a navigation exercise with an Indonesian naval vessel at an undisclosed location east of Taiwan in mid-August, China’s defence ministry said. Taiwan condemned the plan as dangerous and a military provocation. Its Mainland Affairs Council said on Tuesday night that Beijing should immediately stop conduct that could undermine the regional status quo.

Taipei said China was trying to create a false impression internationally that it controls waters off Taiwan’s eastern coast. Taiwan has accused China of increasing its presence there through what it describes as regular law-enforcement patrols, and said exercises involving other countries could reinforce that claim. A senior Taiwanese military intelligence official told parliament the Indonesian warship was not coming specifically to exercise with China.

The official said the vessel was east of Taiwan while returning from Japan, about 70 to 80 nautical miles from the island’s eastern coast. The event was not expected to have a direct military impact on Taiwan, but carried geopolitical significance. Taiwan’s foreign ministry sought clarification from Indonesia on whether it would participate. Indonesia’s navy and defence ministry made no immediate comment.