China yesterday conducted military “combat patrols” in the disputed South China Sea, its army said, the same day as joint drills by the Philippines, the US, Japan and Australia.
The announcement comes one day after defense heads from four countries including the Philippines — which has been engaged in several contentious maritime disputes with Beijing in the past few months — said they would conduct joint drills in the area.
The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Southern Theater Command said it was organizing “joint naval and air combat patrols in the South China Sea.”
Photo: AP
“All military activities that mess up the situation in the South China Sea and create hot spots are under control,” it said in a statement, in an apparent swipe at the other drills being held in the waters.
Further details about the Chinese military activities in the waterway were not announced.
The exercises take place days before US President Joe Biden is due to hold the first trilateral summit with the leaders of the Philippines and Japan.
Top US officials have repeatedly declared the US’ “ironclad” commitment to defending the Philippines against an armed attack in the South China Sea — to the consternation of Beijing.
Yesterday’s drills by the Philippines, the US, Japan and Australia were intended to ensure “that all countries are free to fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows,” US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said in a joint statement.
Named the “Maritime Cooperative Activity,” the drills were to include naval and air force units from all four countries, the joint statement said.
While the statement did not include details on what the drills would precisely include, the Japanese embassy in Manila said in a statement that “anti-submarine warfare training” would be included.
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