China patrolling South China Sea in response to US naval exercise with its allies
China’s military announced that it would conduct air and sea patrols in the South China Sea, where the United States along with the Philippines, Japan and Australia are holding joint naval exercises.
According to the Southern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, air and naval units under its command will carry out "joint combat patrols." The statement emphasized the control over activities that could disrupt the regional situation, without specifying any particular country.
In response to the joint exercises, the defense ministers of the four nations released a joint statement affirming their commitment to uphold freedom of navigation and respect maritime rights under international law.
The exercises are set to occur in the West Philippine Sea, a term used by the Philippine government to denote the parts of the South China Sea within its exclusive economic zone. This area has been subject to sovereignty disputes between China and the Philippines, which have led to recent tensions and clashes between their coast guard ships.
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