China Conducts South China Sea Patrols Amid Rising Tensions With US And Philippines

Amid ongoing tensions with China in the disputed waters, the US and Philippine forces launched their second maritime practice in the South China Sea in less than two months on Wednesday. Per a release from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the two-day bilateral event would include passage drills, communication checks, joint patrols, cross-deck exercises, Officer of the Watch manoeuvres, and fixed-wing aviation operations.

The action comes after the defence allies resumed coordinated patrols in late November, which had been put on hold during Rodrigo Duterte’s administration in 2016. With its vessels engaging in disputed waters, the Philippines and China have seen a spike in tensions in recent months.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of the Philippines has resisted China’s sweeping claims over the waterway by strengthening security ties with Washington and other nations like Japan and Australia. Amid heightened tensions in the South China Sea, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi issued a dire warning last month about the lousy state of relations between Manila and Beijing.

During the exercises designed to improve their interoperability, the US sent out an aircraft carrier, two destroyers, a cruiser, and many combat aircraft. In contrast, the Philippines sent out four Navy vessels, a multirole helicopter, and an anti-sub warfare equipped chopper, per the statement.

They are telling the world that our partnership is stronger than ever. They are also pushing for an open and accessible Indo-Pacific area and an international order based on norms in the face of regional issues, Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., the Philippine military chief, mentioned. He continued that the second maritime cooperative activity represented a significant advancement in their alliance and interoperability with the US.

Reference: BNN Bloomberg

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