... Nonetheless, as Indonesia has no territorial disputes with China over islands and reefs, Canberra and Jakarta can only patrol at the fringes of the South China Sea waters, thus the impacts would not be the same if the patrols were with the Philippines or Vietnam. Besides, Indonesia has no desire to get too deeply involved in the South China Sea issue, nor is Australia powerful enough to cause a large-scale crisis. Unlike the US, Australia is not a paper tiger, but a paper cat. But vigilance is needed against their patrols becoming a precedent for the US and Japan to further step into South China Sea affairs.

Beijing should persuade Jakarta not to participate in such moves but impose pressure on Canberra. Canberra should be clearly told that it is not welcome to launch any geopolitics-oriented actions in the South China Sea. Any moves it makes that will harm the interests of China will receive firm countermeasures and retaliation. If it violates China's territorial waters and sky, it will be a target of China's punishments.