Beijing responds with exercises in the South China Sea to “provocations” from Manila and its partners

September 29 () –

The Chinese Army carried out naval and air exercises in the South China Sea this Saturday, after the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) carried out its fourth “multilateral maritime cooperation action” together with Australia, Japan, New Zealand and the United States in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of Manila.

From Beijing they have described their latest activities as part of “routine training” near Huangyan Dao (Masinloc or Scarborough Basin), where reconnaissance, early warning and patrol work has been carried out, according to a note collected by the state agency. of Xinhua news in which the Army has denounced that “certain countries outside the region are causing problems in the South China Sea, creating instability.”

Previously, the AFP had reported in a statement on the conduct of drills near Bajo de Masinloc by the maritime forces “of five nations” in order to “demonstrate the collective commitment to strengthen regional and international cooperation in support of an Indo -Free and open Pacific.”

“The naval and air units of the participating nations will operate together enhancing cooperation and interoperability between our Armed Forces. The activity will be carried out in accordance with International Law and with due regard to the safety of navigation and the rights and interests of other States”, points out the aforementioned writing.

In this sense, Manila concludes, the joint exercises this Saturday followed the line of “defense of the right to freedom of navigation and overflight, other lawful uses of the sea and international airspace, as well as respect for maritime rights in virtue of International Law”.

China claims most of the waters in the area, considering that they are part of its territory as they appear within the so-called “nine-dot line” that appears on the maps of the Asian giant – a line drawn by the Chinese Government that claims the South China Sea, including the Paracels and Spratly Islands, as its own.

Relations between China and the Philippines have seen increased tensions in recent months. Manila has accused Beijing of hindering its troop supply missions within what it considers its exclusive economic zone, while China insists that Philippine ships transit these waters illegally.