China holds military drills in South China Sea amidst manoeuvres by US, allies
military drills near a territory in the South China Sea near Philippines.
The Southern Theatre Command of China's Peoples Army said on Wednesday that it had carried out air and sea combat patrols near Scarborough Shoal to test «strike capabilities», Al Jazeera reported.
The exercises came on the same day that the United States, Australia, Canada and the Philippines conducted military manoeuvres within Manila's exclusive economic zone (EEZ), which includes the West Philippine Sea.
A joint statement released by Canada's Department of National Defence on August 6 said the combined armed forces of Australia, Canada, the Philippines, and the United States will conduct a Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity within the Philippines' Exclusive Economic Zone on August 7 and 8.
The naval and air force units of participating nations will operate together enhancing cooperation and interoperability between our armed forces, the statement read.
«The activity will be conducted in a manner that is consistent with international law and with due regard to the safety of navigation and the rights and interests of other States,» it said.
«We stand together to address common maritime challenges and underscore our shared dedication to upholding international law and the rules-based order,» it added.
The four countries reaffirmed the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Tribunal Award as a final and legally binding decision on the parties to the dispute.
The joint statement was signed by Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of
