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

South China Sea

Liu Zhen

Published: 9:10pm, 5 Jan 2024

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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.

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Meanwhile, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr has been strengthening Manila’s alliance with the US, resulting in closer military cooperation between the two countries.

In November the two countries held a three-day joint naval drill in waters near Taiwan and the South China Sea, which prompted a live-fire training exercise by the PLA in response.

The Philippine military said this week’s joint patrol marked a “significant leap” in their alliance and interoperability.

“Our alliance is stronger than ever, sending a message to the world. We are advancing a rules-based international order and a free and open Indo-Pacific region in the face of regional challenges,” Philippine armed forces chief Romeo Brawner Jnr said on Wednesday.

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Beijing has condemned the manoeuvres as “provocative military activities” aimed at “flaunting their military might”, adding that they were “detrimental to the management and control of the maritime situation and related disputes”.

“China will continue to resolutely safeguard our own territorial sovereignty and maritime interests,” the Chinese foreign ministry said on Thursday.