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Beijing announced maneuvers for its forces in South China Sea Disputed with other countries on Wednesday, the Philippines began joint exercises in the same area with the United States, Canada and Australia.
The simultaneous maneuvers come amid repeated incidents between Chinese and Philippine ships around coral islands in the South China Sea, raising fears of a confrontation between the two countries.
The Chinese military said in a statement that it was conducting a joint combat patrol in the sea and air space near Huangyan Island, the Chinese name for the reef also known as Scarborough Shoal.
The Chinese army added in a statement that the maneuvers aim to test the capabilities of reconnaissance, early warning, rapid maneuvering, and launching joint strikes.
“All military activities that disrupt the South China Sea, create hotspots and undermine regional peace and stability are being controlled to the utmost extent,” he added, referring to the Philippines' current exercises with its Western allies.
In 2012, China reclaimed the Scarborough Shoal from the Philippines, where new Chinese naval exercises are taking place. Since that year, China has been sending ships to the site, which the Philippines accuses of harassing its fleet and fishermen trying to reach the area.
Coinciding with the Chinese drills, the Philippines launched two-day joint naval and air exercises in the region with the United States, Canada and Australia.
A Philippine military source said the drills are the first of their kind for the four countries as a group, and will include naval and air units.
The joint statement said the exercise will be conducted within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone and will demonstrate the four countries' collective commitment to enhancing regional and international cooperation to support a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
The Philippines last week conducted separate naval exercises in the South China Sea, first with the United States and then with Japan two days later, and a joint coast guard exercise is also scheduled to take place off Manila Bay on Friday between the Philippines and Vietnam.
Beijing claims sovereignty over a large part of the islands and coral reefs in the South China Sea after rejecting a 2016 international court ruling that its position had no legal basis. Other countries, such as Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei, also claim what they consider to be their rights in the sea, noting that each of these countries controls a number of coral islands.
The Philippines has a mutual defense treaty with the United States, and last month signed a treaty with Japan allowing troops to be deployed on each other's territory.
