Russia and Asean led by Indonesia's navy hold first naval drills off Indonesian coast

This handout photo taken and released on December 1, 2021 by the Indonesian fleet command Koarmada I shows an admiral inspection ceremony on the Russian destroyer Admiral Panteleyev off the waters of Belawan during a joint exercise between the Indonesian Navy, the Russian Navy and Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean) members. - AFP

JAKARTA, Dec 1, 2021 (AFP): Russia and a number of South-East Asian countries kicked off their first ever joint naval exercise along the Strait of Malacca, one of the world's most important shipping lanes, on Wednesday, Indonesia's navy said.

The drills come at a time of growing tensions in the Pacific, particularly around the South China Sea, which Beijing claims almost in its entirety.