U.S., Japan Join Philippines in South China Sea Drills

AP

U.S. navy ship at South China Sea.

The U.S. and Japan joined the Philippines in maritime exercises in the South China Sea, as the Filipino and Chinese governments traded accusations following an encounter between vessels from their countries in the disputed ‌waters, Reuters reported on Sunday.

The five-day drills from July 21 to 25 brought together warships, coast guard vessels and surveillance and fighter aircraft in operations aimed at improving interoperability among the allies, the Philippine military said on Sunday.

According to Reuters, the exercises were the latest in a series of joint drills that have expanded in scope and frequency ⁠in recent years as the Philippines, backed by the U.S. and Japan, seeks to push back against China's sweeping claims over the South China Sea.

The drills underscored "the enduring partnership among the partner nations in promoting peace, stability, and security in the Indo-Pacific region," the military said in a statement.

The military exercises began a day after the Philippines accused Chinese Coast Guard personnel of striking a Filipino sailor with a baton during an incident at the Second Thomas Shoal. Beijing rejected the allegation, claiming Philippine vessels had initiated the confrontation by attacking and ramming Chinese boats.

During the drills, the Philippine Coast Guard said Chinese vessels used water cannon against Philippine government ships operating near Scarborough Shoal on both Thursday and Friday. China said it had taken what it described as "lawful control measures" after Philippine vessels had "persisted in intruding" into waters claimed by Beijing.

China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, a position that overlaps with the claims of several neighbouring countries. Beijing continues to reject a 2016 ruling by an international arbitral tribunal, which found that its expansive claims in the strategic waterway have no legal basis under international law.



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