Vietnam, Philippines criticise Chinese military drills in South China Sea

The Philippines said China’s exercises near the Paracel Islands were ‘highly provocative’ while Vietnam said they violate its sovereignty

Hanoi and Manila warned of growing insecurity in Southeast Asia at an Asean summit last week, amid concerns that China is advancing its territorial claims

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A Vietnamese coastguard ship crew member looks at Chinese coastguard vessels in the South China Sea. China is conducting military drills in the disputed sea. File photo: Reuters

Published: 11:09pm, 2 Jul 2020Updated: 5:37am, 3 Jul 2020

Vietnam and the Philippines on Thursday criticised China’s holding of military drills in a disputed part of the South China Sea, warning it could create tension in the region and affect Beijing’s relationship with its neighbours.

Philippine Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said China’s exercises in the waters near the Paracel Islands were “highly provocative”, while Vietnam’s Foreign Ministry called them a violation of sovereignty that could be “detrimental” to Beijing’s relationship with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).

China scheduled five days of drills from Wednesday near the Paracels according to a June 27 announcement by the Hainan’s Maritime Safety Administration. Vietnam has overlapping claims with China over the Paracels.

Vietnam and the Philippines have been the most vocal regional opponents to what they see as Chinese overreach in the South China Sea and its disregard for boundaries outlined in international maritime law.

Philippine Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana talks to reporters in Philippine-occupied Thitu Island in the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. Photo: Reuters

China claims historical jurisdiction over about 80 per cent of the sea.

Hanoi and Manila warned of growing insecurity in Southeast Asia at an Asean summit last Friday, amid concern, including from the United States, that China was using the cover of the coronavirus pandemic to step up naval activities and advance its territorial claims.

Vietnam, Philippines criticise Chinese military drills in South China Sea

The Philippines said China’s exercises near the Paracel Islands were ‘highly provocative’ while Vietnam said they violate its sovereignty Hanoi and Manila warned of growing insecurity in Southeast Asia at an Asean summit last week, amid concerns that China is advancing its territorial claims

The Philippines said China’s exercises near the Paracel Islands were ‘highly provocative’ while Vietnam said they violate its sovereignty

Hanoi and Manila warned of growing insecurity in Southeast Asia at an Asean summit last week, amid concerns that China is advancing its territorial claims