China and Four Nations Conduct Military Drills Near South China Sea
China’s military has launched drills near the South China Sea’s Scarborough Shoal to test strike capabilities. The Southern Theatre Command of China’s Peoples Army announced the air and sea combat patrols.
On the same day, the US, Australia, Canada, and the Philippines conducted joint military exercises within Manila’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), which includes the West Philippine Sea. This Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity aimed to enhance cooperation and interoperability among the armed forces of the participating nations.
A joint statement from Canada’s Department of National Defence emphasized that the activity would adhere to international law and ensure the safety of navigation. The statement was signed by military leaders from the Philippines, Australia, Canada, and the US, reaffirming the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Tribunal Award as a final and legally binding decision.
Philippine Navy spokesperson Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad highlighted that this was the first such activity involving all four countries, conducted within the bounds of international law. He confirmed the presence of three Chinese PLA Navy vessels monitoring the exercises but clarified that the activity was not aimed against any particular country.
The Philippine contingent included the missile frigate BRP Jose Rizal and the offshore patrol vessel BRP Ramon Alcaraz. Australia deployed a Poseidon Aircraft, Canada sent the HMCS Montreal and a Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone helicopter, while the US was represented by the USS Lake Erie and a Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk helicopter.
Doubts Revealed
South China Sea -: The South China Sea is a large sea in Asia, surrounded by countries like China, the Philippines, and Vietnam. It’s important because many ships pass through it, and it has lots of fish and underwater resources.
Scarborough Shoal -: Scarborough Shoal is a group of small rocks and reefs in the South China Sea. Different countries, like China and the Philippines, both say it belongs to them.
Exclusive Economic Zone -: An Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is an area of the sea where a country has special rights to use the resources, like fish and oil. It usually extends 200 nautical miles from the coast.
Arbitral Tribunal Award -: The 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Tribunal Award was a decision by an international court. It said that China’s claims to most of the South China Sea were not legal.
rules-based international order -: A rules-based international order means that countries agree to follow certain rules and laws when dealing with each other. This helps keep peace and fairness in the world.
