China’s military starts fresh exercise day after US-Philippine patrol ends

The People’s Liberation Army Southern Theatre Command said the exercise in the South China Sea was a ‘routine’ drill

The command said it would be ‘on high alert’ at all times after the US and Philippine exercise in the disputed waters finished

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Southern Theatre Command announced the new exercise the day after a two-day drill concluded. Photo: Southern Theatre Command

Published: 9:10pm, 5 Jan 2024

China began a new military exercise in the South China Sea on Friday following the end of a two-day joint patrol by the United States and Philippines in the disputed waters.

The People’s Liberation Army Southern Theatre Command announced that the navy and air force were conducting a “routine” exercise, without giving details of the location or scale of the drill.

The command carried out another patrol on Wednesday and Thursday while the US-Philippine exercise, which included the aircraft carrier strike group led by the USS Carl Vinson, was taking place.

The Philippine Navy said on Thursday that two PLA Navy vessels – a Type 052D guided-missile destroyer and a Type 054A frigate, – had been “shadowing” the joint patrol from a distance. Philippine media reports added that the two ships had failed to respond to five warning messages.

In a post on its official social media accounts, Southern Theatre Command said the PLA has full control of “any military activities that disrupt and create hotspots in the South China Sea” and pledged it would “remain on high alert at all times, resolutely safeguarding national sovereignty, security and maritime rights and interests”.

Tensions between Manila and Beijing over the South China Sea rose significantly last year after several confrontations where Chinese coastguard vessels blocked Philippine efforts to supply troops stationed on the disputed Second Thomas Shoal.