China Condemns Philippine South China Sea Patrol, Amidst multinational Exercise
BEIJING – China’s Southern Theater Command has criticized a recent Philippine patrol in the South China Sea, deeming it detrimental to regional peace and stability. The condemnation comes as the Philippines participates in a joint multinational exercise with Australia, New Zealand, and the United States, signaling increased security cooperation in the contested waters.
The Philippine patrol, details of which were not immediately released, drew sharp rebuke from Chinese military spokesperson Tian Junli, who accused Manila of being a “disruptive force” in the region. Tian affirmed China’s commitment to defending its territorial sovereignty and maritime interests, raising tensions in an area already fraught with competing claims. This incident underscores the ongoing dispute over the South China Sea, a vital shipping lane and resource-rich area claimed almost entirely by China, despite overlapping claims from Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam.
The multinational exercise, led by the U.S. 7th Fleet, is presented as a exhibition of commitment to a “free and open Indo-Pacific region” and aims to bolster regional and international cooperation. Though, Beijing continues to disregard the 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, which invalidated China’s expansive claims in the South China sea. The Philippine Embassy in Beijing has yet to comment on the chinese accusations.
