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South China Morning Post
24-06-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
A South China Sea digital commons could help calm troubled waters
On June 14, the Chinese military conducted sea and air patrols in the South China Sea, even as the Philippines and Japan held a joint drill in the waters. Earlier in the month, the US and the Philippines had held joint exercises in the sea. Tian Junli, spokesperson of the People's Liberation Army Southern Theatre Command, criticised the Philippines for 'courting non-regional countries and organisations' – likely alluding to the US and Japan – to conduct such drills, saying they 'raised security risks' in the region. He said the Chinese forces would remain on 'high alert' to safeguard China's sovereignty and maritime rights. Parts of the South China Sea – a vital conduit for an estimated US$3.4 trillion in annual global trade – are claimed by China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei, with China's nine-dash line overlapping other nations' exclusive economic zones. China views US-Philippine patrols as external interference meant to challenge its claims. Conversely, the Philippines sees these exercises as essential for safeguarding its sovereignty and ensuring freedom of navigation. Reuters reported that the Philippines' patrols with the US took place within undisputed waters off Occidental Mindoro and Zambales. Interestingly, the Philippine Navy has denied China's claims of coordinated patrols during the drills with Japan. The cycle of patrols and counter-patrols highlights the risk of miscalculation in a region critical to global trade and security. The South China Sea operates as a low-information zone, where limited shared awareness among rival forces increases the risk of misinterpretation and escalation.
The Star
16-06-2025
- General
- The Star
Philippines, Japan hold joint drills after reciprocal access agreement
MANILA: The Philippines and Japan conducted joint maritime exercises in the West Philippine Sea over the weekend, marking one of their first major joint activities after Japan's Diet ratified early this month the reciprocal access agreement (RAA) between the two countries. At about the same time, China's military held joint sea and air patrols in the South China Sea, according to Tian Junli, a spokesperson for the Southern Theatre Command of the People's Liberation Army-Navy. The drills with Japan, called 'maritime cooperative activity (MCA),' were held on Saturday (June 14) within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and involved the Philippine Navy's newest frigate BRP Miguel Malvar and guided-missile destroyer JS Takanami (DD-110) of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). 'More than a maritime drill, the MCA underscored the operationalisation of the RAA—an accord that lays the groundwork for increased joint training, humanitarian assistance and disaster response initiatives between the AFP and JMSDF,' the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said. The drills featured antisubmarine warfare exercises, cross-deck exercises, communication check exercise, division tactics and officer of the watch manoeuvres, photo exercises and a finish exercise. Also joining the drills were the AgustaWestland 159 antisubmarine helicopter, C-208 ISR aircraft of the Philippine Air Force, search and rescue units, and Japan's SH-60K Seahawk. A video from the AFP showed the popular Japanese anime 'Gundam' playing in the background as sailors from the BRP Miguel Malvar manned the rails while sailing with JS Takanami nearby. 'With the RAA now in effect, our coordination with Japan will only grow stronger and more responsive to the complex demands of our shared security environment,' AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. was quoted as saying. The West Philippine Sea is Manila's EEZ in the South China Sea, which China claims almost entirely. Tokyo and Beijing have also repeatedly faced off around uninhabited Japanese-administered islands that Tokyo calls the Senkaku and Beijing calls the Diaoyu. Tokyo's security cooperation with Manila is expected to get a boost in the coming years following Japan's ratification of the RAA, which the Philippine Senate approved in December last year. Tian, meanwhile, criticised the Philippines for courting countries outside the region to organise 'joint patrols' and 'raised security risks' in the region. 'The theatre command forces remain on high alert, resolutely safeguarding China's national sovereignty and maritime rights,' he said in a statement on Sunday. He added that 'all military activities that seek to stir up trouble in the South China Sea or create flashpoints are fully under control.' The Philippine Embassy in Beijing did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment. The Philippines and the United States conducted joint maritime drills in the South China Sea for a seventh time earlier this month. Tensions continue to run high between China and the Philippines over territorial disputes in the South China Sea, a conduit for more than US$3 trillion of annual ship-borne commerce. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
South China Morning Post
16-06-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
PLA patrols in the South China Sea as Philippines, Japan hold joint drills
The Chinese military carried out patrols in the South China Sea on Saturday, as the Philippines and Japan held a joint drill in the disputed waters. China's People's Liberation Army joint sea and air patrols were conducted by the Southern Theatre Command, its spokesman Senior Colonel Tian Junli said in a statement on Sunday. The PLA patrols were a response to the Philippines-Japan joint maritime drills – their second since August – which Tian called a threat to regional peace. 'The Philippines has been courting countries outside the region to conduct so-called joint patrols, raising security risks in the South China Sea and undermining regional peace and stability,' Tian said in the statement. He said PLA Southern Theatre Command troops would 'remain on high alert' to safeguard China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights. 'Any military activities that stir up trouble or create flashpoints in the South China Sea are fully under control,' he said.
The Hindu
15-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
China's military conducts patrols in South China Sea, warns Philippines
China's military held joint sea and air patrols in the South China Sea on Saturday (June 14, 2025), a spokesperson for the People's Liberation Army's Southern Theater Command said. Spokesperson Tian Junli said in a statement on Sunday (June 15, 2025) that the Philippines has courted countries outside the region to organise 'joint patrols' and 'raised security risks' in the region. 'The theater command forces remain on high alert, resolutely safeguarding China's national sovereignty and maritime rights,' he said, adding that 'all military activities that seek to stir up trouble in the South China Sea or create flashpoints are fully under control.' The Philippine embassy in Beijing did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment. The Philippines and the United States conducted joint maritime drills in the South China Sea for a seventh time earlier this month. Tensions have continued to run high between China and the Philippines over territorial disputes in the South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual ship-borne commerce. China claims almost the entire South China Sea, including parts claimed by Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in Hague ruled that China's claims were not supported by international law, a decision that Beijing rejects.
Yahoo
15-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
China's military conducts patrols in South China Sea, warns Philippines
BEIJING (Reuters) -China's military held joint sea and air patrols in the South China Sea on Saturday, a spokesperson for the People's Liberation Army's Southern Theater Command said. Spokesperson Tian Junli said in a statement on Sunday that the Philippines has courted countries outside the region to organise "joint patrols" and "raised security risks" in the region. "The theater command forces remain on high alert, resolutely safeguarding China's national sovereignty and maritime rights," he said, adding that "all military activities that seek to stir up trouble in the South China Sea or create flashpoints are fully under control." The Philippine embassy in Beijing did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment. The Philippines and the United States conducted joint maritime drills in the South China Sea for a seventh time earlier this month. Tensions have continued to run high between China and the Philippines over territorial disputes in the South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual ship-borne commerce. China claims almost the entire South China Sea, including parts claimed by Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. In 2016 the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague ruled that China's claims were not supported by international law, a decision that Beijing rejects.
