Chinese air and naval forces are currently conducting military exercises in a disputed region of the South China Sea, according to a statement from the military on Saturday. This announcement follows discussions between China’s top diplomat and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken aimed at reducing regional tensions.
The Chinese maneuvers will involve “routine” early warning and reconnaissance exercises, along with patrols around Scarborough Shoal, a highly contested area located 200 kilometers (124 miles) off the coast of the Philippines, within its exclusive economic zone. The Southern Theatre Command of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) did not provide specific details regarding the drills but emphasized that its troops maintain a high level of vigilance to defend national sovereignty and maritime interests.
Scarborough Shoal is claimed by China, which asserts extensive rights over nearly the entire South China Sea, a claim contested by Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam. In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled that China’s claims lack legal support, a decision Beijing refuses to acknowledge. The court did not rule on sovereignty over the Scarborough Shoal, designating it a traditional fishing ground for multiple nations.
The announcement of the drills comes on the heels of a meeting between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Blinken in New York, where they discussed strategies to prevent conflict in the South China Sea. Wang insisted that China prefers resolving differences through dialogue and consultation, while Blinken raised concerns over China’s “dangerous and destabilizing actions” in the region. He also suggested improving communication between the military forces of both nations.
In a recent report, a Beijing-based think tank estimated that warships from various nations spend over 20,000 days annually in the South China Sea, with US Navy ships contributing about 1,600 days at sea in the area.