China, US and allies hold competing military drills in tense South China Sea

Tensions in the South China Sea escalated Saturday, Sept 28, as China conducted military drills near a disputed area while the U.S. and its Asia-Pacific allies carried out joint naval exercises nearby. China’s military announced that it had conducted routine early warning and reconnaissance exercises, and patrols around Scarborough Shoal, a contested atoll within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.

However, Philippine defense officials said they had not observed any Chinese drills in the area.

A spokesperson for the Philippine Navy suggested that China’s statements could be aimed at a domestic audience, where the government faces pressure to maintain a firm stance on territorial disputes.

At the same time, the U.S. Seventh Fleet joined forces with naval units from the Philippines, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand for a joint exercise within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. The drills included surface maneuvers and search-and-rescue training.

The exercise reflects growing cooperation between the U.S. and its allies in response to an increasingly assertive China, which claims sovereignty over most features in the South China Sea.

China’s claims clash with competing claims from the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei.

Scarborough Shoal has been a longstanding point of contention between China and the Philippines since a standoff in 2012. In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled that China’s expansive claims were not supported by international law, but Beijing has refused to recognize the decision.

Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met to discuss regional tensions. Wang emphasized China’s commitment to resolving differences through dialogue, while Blinken raised concerns about China’s activities in the South China Sea.