China Conducts South China Sea Patrols in Response to US-Led Naval Drills

Image credit: South China Morning 

In response to naval exercises conducted by the United States and its allies in the South China Sea, China’s military announced on Sunday that it had undertaken air and sea patrols to maintain control over activities that “disrupt the South China Sea.”

The joint naval exercises were announced on Saturday by the defense chiefs of the US, Japan, Australia, and the Philippines. The purpose of these exercises, as stated, is to safeguard the rule of law and uphold the freedom of navigation through these waters.

The South China Sea is a critical maritime region where China has long-standing territorial disputes with multiple Southeast Asian nations. Tensions, particularly with the Philippines, have escalated since last year due to ongoing disputes over territorial claims.

In response to perceived US interference in these disputes, China has accused the US of inflaming tensions by conducting joint patrols with the Philippines.

A statement released by the Chinese military’s Southern Theater Command emphasized that they have organized patrols to ensure control over all military activities that could disrupt the South China Sea and create hotspots.

While the Chinese statement did not explicitly mention the United States or the joint exercises, the US and its allies did not directly reference China in their announcement. However, they reaffirmed their position on a 2016 international arbitration ruling, which rejected China’s expansive claims in the South China Sea, emphasizing that the ruling is final and legally binding.

The recent developments in the South China Sea are likely to be a key topic of discussion during an upcoming summit at the White House, where President Joe Biden will host the leaders of Japan and the Philippines later this week.

The joint naval exercises and patrols reflect ongoing geopolitical tensions in the region, where the US and its allies are asserting the principles of freedom of navigation and challenging China’s expansive maritime claims.

China’s military actions in response to the US-led exercises demonstrate Beijing’s determination to assert its sovereignty and defend what it perceives as its core interests in the South China Sea.

The South China Sea is a vital shipping route, and the disputes over territorial claims have broader implications for regional stability and international maritime law.

The Biden administration’s engagement with key allies like Japan and the Philippines underscores a strategic commitment to upholding international norms and ensuring a rules-based order in the Asia-Pacific region.

As tensions persist and competing claims remain unresolved, the situation in the South China Sea is likely to remain a focal point of geopolitical competition and diplomatic maneuvering between major powers in the coming months.

This story was originally featured on AP News