China conducts military exercises in contested South China Sea

NEW DELHI: China's military conducted "combat patrols" in the disputed South China Sea on Sunday, as announced by its army. This coincided with joint drills held by the Philippines, the United States, Japan, and Australia on the same day.
The People's Liberation Army (PLA) Southern Theater Command stated that it was organising "joint naval and air combat patrols in the South China Sea," aiming to control any military activities that could escalate tensions in the region.

The announcement followed a declaration by defense chiefs from four nations, including the Philippines, to conduct joint drills in the South China Sea. The exercises took place ahead of the upcoming trilateral summit involving US President Joe Biden, the leaders of the Philippines, and Japan. The United States has reiterated its commitment to defending the Philippines against any armed aggression in the region, much to Beijing's displeasure.
China asserts territorial sovereignty over a large part of the South China Sea and has been displaying increased assertiveness in the area. The Chinese Coast Guard recently addressed an incident at a disputed reef involving Philippine vessels conducting what China deemed as "illegal" activities. China's spokesperson, Gan Yu, accused the Philippines of provocation and emphasised China's resolve to enforce its jurisdiction in the region.

In response to China's claims, the joint drills conducted by the Philippines, United States, Japan, and Australia aimed to uphold freedom of navigation in accordance with international law. The drills, known as "Maritime Cooperative Activity," involved naval and air force units from the four countries, with a focus on anti-submarine warfare training, as mentioned by the Japanese embassy in Manila.
The presence of the Australian warship HMAS Warramunga near the contested waters of Palawan in the Philippines signaled a show of solidarity among the participating nations. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos expressed the country's unwavering stance against intimidation from China, asserting its commitment to sovereignty.

Furthermore, ongoing discussions between the Philippines and Japan regarding a defense pact to allow troop