China: US-Philippine War Exercises In The South China Sea Provocative

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin spoke to media in Beijing, China, on Thursday (4/1/2023). (ANTARA/Desca Lidya Natalia)

JAKARTA - The Chinese government has again protested the joint military exercises of the United States and the Philippines in the South China Sea and called the activity a provocation.

"We want to emphasize that US and Philippine military activities are provocations, and provocative actions in the South China Sea are not conducive to managing situations at sea and dealing with maritime disputes," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told the press in Beijing, China, as reported by ANTARA, Thursday, January 4.

Earlier, the South Palagan Command of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) on Wednesday (3/1) said there would be the deployment of China's naval and air fleet for two days on Wednesday and Thursday.

The ships were conducting routine patrols when US warship fleet led by US carrier Carl Vinson conducted two days of training with the Philippine Navy.

"We urge the relevant countries to stop the irresponsible act, and respect the efforts of countries in the region to uphold peace and stability in the South China Sea," said Wang Wenbin.

China, he said, would continue to strictly maintain the sovereignty of its territory, as well as its maritime rights and interests.

"As well as making active efforts to uphold peace and peace in the region," he said.

US and Philippine warships previously held joint military exercises in the South China Sea on November 23, 2023.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said that Manila should change its approach in the South China Sea in dealing with overlapping claims from several countries.

He rejected the "consultive" approach to China that his predecessors had taken.

Marcos also said the Philippines would seek more military agreements with other countries that would allow joint training, as Manila's efforts build stronger defense relations with the US and Japan.

The Philippines recently agreed to start talks with France over a defense agreement that would allow military visits.

The Philippines has also placed the BRP Sierra Madre warship as a "floating headquarters" since 1999 for Philippine coast guards near coral islands in disputed waters,

The island is referred to by China as "Ren'ai Jiao", while the Philippines calls it "Beting Ayungin", part of the disputed Spratly Islands of the two countries and also several other countries in Southeast Asia.

China includes the "Nine-Dash Line" area, an area of 2 million square km, 90 percent of which is claimed by China as its maritime right historically.