China Conducts Military Drills in South China Sea Following U.S. Talks, Reports Reuters

By Joe Cash

BEIJING – Chinese air and naval forces are conducting maneuvers in a contested area of the South China Sea, as reported by the military on Saturday. This announcement came just hours after China’s top diplomat engaged in discussions with his U.S. counterpart about ways to ease regional tensions.

The developments follow a statement from Australia and the Philippines regarding joint military exercises with Japan, New Zealand, and the United States within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.

The exercises conducted by China are characterized as "routine" early warning and reconnaissance drills, along with patrols around Scarborough Shoal, according to the Southern Theatre Command of the People’s Liberation Army. However, specific details about the drills were not disclosed. The statement emphasized the military’s commitment to maintaining a high level of vigilance and firmly defending national sovereignty, security, and maritime interests while striving to uphold peace and stability in the region.

Scarborough Shoal, located approximately 200 km off the coast of the Philippines, is one of the most disputed features in Asia and lies within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. China lays claim to nearly the entire South China Sea, including Scarborough Shoal, which is rich in fish resources and known for its picturesque lagoon. This claim, however, overlaps with those of Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam.

In a 2016 ruling, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague determined that China’s extensive claims lacked support under international law, a decision that Beijing has refused to acknowledge. The tribunal did not resolve the issue of sovereignty over Scarborough Shoal, noting it as a traditional fishing area for multiple nations.

The announcement of military maneuvers follows a meeting between Foreign Minister Wang Yi and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in New York, where they discussed methods to prevent conflict in the South China Sea. In March, Blinken affirmed the “ironclad” defense partnership between the Philippines and the United States amid accusations from Manila about aggressive actions by China’s coast guard and fishing vessels, which are thought to be part of a maritime militia.

During the recent meeting, Wang asserted that China favors addressing differences through direct dialogue with the affected countries. In turn, Blinken highlighted China’s "dangerous and destabilizing actions" in the South China Sea and advocated for improved communication between the militaries of the two nations. Wang cautioned Blinken that the U.S. should refrain from provoking issues in the South China Sea and should not undermine the efforts of regional nations to preserve peace and stability.

A report released by a Beijing-based think tank indicated that various nations’ warships collectively spent over 20,000 days per year in the South China Sea, while military aircraft traversed the region more than 30,000 times. U.S. Navy ships were logged at approximately 1,600 days at sea in that area, alongside an undisclosed number of submarines.