US conducts joint military exercises with Philippines in East Sea, China declares it will not ignore

On January 3, AFP news agency reported that the aircraft carrier strike group led by the USS Carl Vinson conducted a two-day exercise with the Philippine Navy.

Mỹ tập trận chung với Philippines ở Biển Đông, Trung Quốc tuyên bố không làm ngơ

US and Philippine soldiers during a joint exercise. (Source: Reuters)

On January 3, AFP news agency reported that the aircraft carrier strike group led by the USS Carl Vinson conducted a two-day exercise with the Philippine Navy.

“The US Navy conducts such routine exercises to strengthen relations between allied and partner countries,” AFP quoted a US official as saying. On the same day, the Southern Theater Command of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) stressed that it had “deployed naval and air forces to conduct routine patrols” in the East Sea from January 3-4.

Thus, on January 3, both the US and China announced military deployment in the East Sea, after tensions increased between China and the Philippines in this disputed sea area.

The moves come after the Philippine Coast Guard released videos last month showing Chinese vessels using water cannons on Philippine vessels. There have also been incidents of ship collisions at the disputed Second Thomas Shoal (Ayungin Shoal in the Philippines and Ren'ai Reef in China).

The Philippine military confirmed the second joint patrol this week involved four ships from the Philippine navy and four ships from the US Indo- Pacific Command, including an aircraft carrier, a cruiser and two destroyers.

Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Romeo Brawner said the second joint military exercise this week marked a “significant leap” in Manila’s alliance with the United States and its interoperability with the US military.

“Our alliance is stronger than ever, sending a message to the world. We are promoting a rules-based international order and a free and open Indo-Pacific region in the face of regional challenges,” General Brawner said. Last week, Beijing said it would not turn a blind eye to the Philippines’ continued “provocations and harassment.”

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