China's military announced on Sunday that it had conducted air and sea patrols in the South China Sea, asserting control over activities that disrupt the region. This move comes in response to joint naval exercises planned by the United States and its allies.
The defense chiefs of the U.S., Japan, Australia, and the Philippines revealed their intention to hold joint exercises in the South China Sea to uphold the rule of law and the freedom of navigation in the area. The South China Sea is a crucial shipping route with long-standing territorial disputes between China and several Southeast Asian nations, leading to recent tensions, particularly with the Philippines.
Amidst these developments, the U.S. has conducted joint patrols with the Philippines to show support, a move that China has criticized as inflaming tensions and interfering in the disputes.
In response, the Chinese military's Southern Theater Command stated that it had organized patrols to ensure that all military activities causing disruptions in the South China Sea are under control. However, the statement did not directly reference the U.S. or the joint exercises.
Conversely, the U.S. and its allies did not mention China in their joint statement but reiterated their support for a 2016 international arbitration ruling that invalidated China's expansive claims in the South China Sea, emphasizing its final and legally binding nature.
The escalating tensions in the disputed waters are expected to be a focal point during an upcoming summit at the White House, where U.S. President Joe Biden will meet with his Japanese and Philippine counterparts to discuss regional security concerns.
