JAKARTA, Dec 4 (Reuters): Russia and the Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean) have concluded their first joint naval exercise, Indonesia's navy said on Saturday, as the region faces rising tensions with China.
The three-day exercise off the coast of Indonesia's Sumatra island aimed at increasing interoperability between the Asean member states and the Russian navy in the strategic maritime area. It comes amid rising tensions between major powers in the South China Sea, a resource-rich waterway of geopolitical significance.
