PLA patrols South China Sea as US, Philippines, Japan and Australia hold drills
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China's military conducted a naval and air patrol in the South China Sea on the same day that the Philippines, US, Japan, and Australia held joint military drills. The Southern Theatre Command of the People's Liberation Army announced the joint air and sea combat patrol on April 7. The Chinese military referred to the joint drills as military activities 'intended to sabotage the situation' and create 'hotspots' that are 'well under control'. The joint drills by the US, Japan, Australia, and the Philippines aim to demonstrate collective commitment to strengthening regional and international cooperation in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific. The exercise involves five warships, including two Philippine warships, the BRP Gregorio del Pilar and BRP Ramon Alcaraz, the American USS Mobile, Japan's JS Akebono, and Australia's HMAS Warramunga. The drill includes warfare training, communication drills, and sailing in formation to strengthen interoperability among their defense forces. Tensions between Beijing and Manila over disputed waters in the South China Sea have been growing, with the Philippines accusing China of obstructing resupply missions and conducting dangerous maneuvers. The joint drill comes ahead of a meeting between Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr, US President Joe Biden, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Washington on April 11 to discuss improving interoperability and naval cooperation.
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