- China conducts combat patrols amid US-led South China Sea drills
- Tensions escalate as Beijing’s military activity coincides with exercises
- Philippines, US, Japan, Australia conduct joint military drills in region
China has undertaken military “combat patrols” in the contested South China Sea, thereby increasing tensions in the region on the same day that the United States, the Philippines, Japan, and Australia execute their inaugural joint military exercises.
The Philippines was expected to conduct joint drills in the same area on the same day, according to defence chiefs from all four countries. Beijing’s unexpected announcement of a naval exercise on Sunday followed that day.
Southern Theatre Command of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in Beijing announced that “joint naval and air combat patrols in the South China Sea” were being planned.
“All military operations that disrupt the situation and generate hotspots in the South China Sea are under control,” it said in a statement, seemingly referring to the drills conducted by the United States that are taking place in the same waters.
On Sunday, the Chinese army provided no additional information regarding its activities in the waterway.
The drills were conducted several days prior to the inaugural trilateral summit between US President Joe Biden, the leaders of Japan and the Philippines, and themselves.
To Beijing’s dismay, senior US officials have declared on multiple occasions that the United States is “ironclad” in its commitment to defend the Philippines from an armed assault in the South China Sea.
Exchanging allegations
China has been progressively more assertive in the South China Sea in recent years, asserting its territorial sovereignty over the vast majority of the area.
The arbitral court in The Hague ruled in 2016 that Beijing’s assertion was devoid of merit. However, Beijing has disregarded the ruling and competing territorial claims of the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries.
The Philippines and China’s coastguard exchanged accusations on Saturday. Several Philippine ships were conducting “illegal” operations at Iroquois Reef on Thursday, the organisation stated, and it “handled” the situation.
“Under the pretext of ‘fishing protection,’ Philippine government vessels have unlawfully violated and incited media outlets to intentionally incite and mislead, thereby further undermining stability in the South China Sea,” said spokesman Gan Yu.
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Gan stated, “We are announcing to the Philippines that any attempts to infringe are futile” and that China would “consistently enforce the law in waters within its jurisdiction.”
The Philippines maintains that the region falls within its exclusive economic zone of 200 nautical miles, as mandated by international law. Conversely, “illegal enforcement operations” were alleged to be being conducted by China, according to Philippine coastguard spokesman Jay Tarriela.
According to a joint statement by US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and the Philippines, the purpose of the joint exercises is to “ensure that all countries are free to fly, sail, and operate wherever international law permits.”
Drills dubbed the “Maritime Cooperative Activity” will involve air and naval forces of all four nations, according to a joint statement.
Anti-submarine warfare training is reportedly a component of the exercises in order to protect “the rule of law, which is the cornerstone of a stable and peaceful Indo-Pacific region.”
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