by David Stanway (Reuters) Chinese ships left the port of Qingdao on Saturday to participate in naval workouts off the coast of Indonesia, China’s Ministry of Defence stated, every week after a dispute between the 2 nations over contested waters within the South China Sea.

In a notice posted on its website the ministry stated the Chinese navy flotilla will maintain joint blue-water coaching and conduct catastrophe aid workouts with 16 nations, together with Indonesia, the United States and Russia.

The workouts, run by the Indonesian navy, will start at Padang and close by islands on April 12.

Last week, Indonesia tried to detain a Chinese trawler it accused of fishing in its unique financial zone within the South China Sea, prompting the Chinese coastguard to intervene.

Tensions have been rising within the South China Sea as China continues to reclaim land and stake claims over huge swathes of an vital transport hall. Several Southeast Asian nations have overlapping claims within the space, together with Vietnam.

The ministry stated in a separate discover that Defence Minister Chang Wanquan was attributable to go to Vietnam on Saturday to take part in high-level talks.

(Reporting by David Stanway; Editing by Stephen Coates)
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