On Wednesday, the United States Navy announced that defense forces from Australia, Japan, and the Philippines will conduct maritime activities in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone in collaboration with the United States to enhance cooperation and interoperability.
A spokesperson from the Southern Theater Command of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) later stated that China had carried out a “routine patrol” in the South China Sea on the same day. The spokesperson emphasized the military’s vigilance to defend China’s territorial sovereignty, maritime rights, and to control any military activities that could disrupt the South China Sea.
Previously, on February 4th, three Filipino FA-50 fighter jets and two American B1-B bombers participated in a joint patrol exercise in the South China Sea, including flying over Scarborough Shoal (referred to as “Huangyan Island” by China), while the Chinese PLA Air Force conducted its own “routine patrols” in the same area.
According to a spokesperson from the Philippine Air Force, the one-day exercise took place in the West Philippine Sea, within its exclusive economic zone, with the aim to “enhance operational coordination, increase airspace awareness, and strengthen the flexible combat capabilities of the two air forces.”
The Philippine Navy spokesperson mentioned that they are closely monitoring three Chinese Navy vessels, including a Jiangkai II-class missile frigate, in Philippine waters.
The news has been sourced from Reuters.