China Deploys Warships Against US Presence in South China Sea

China deployed naval forces for patrols in the South China Sea earlier this week, while the United States conducted a maritime exercise with its treaty ally the Philippines.

The U.S. Navy‘s 7th Fleet said in a news release that it and the Armed Forces of the Philippines held a Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) within the Southeast Asian country’s waters from Sunday to Monday in support of “a free and open Indo-Pacific.”

While blaming the Philippines for “disrupting peace and stability” in the South China Sea through joint patrols with non-regional countries, the Chinese military warned it would safeguard China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.

Why It Matters

China has asserted sovereignty over most of the South China Sea based on so-called historic rights, which overlap with the claims of other regional countries, including the Philippines—a U.S. mutual defense treaty ally—often leading to clashes at sea.

As part of efforts to tighten its control of the South China Sea, China has maintained a strong naval and coast guard presence in the region, but it has been challenged by the U.S. and its allies—including Australia and Japan—which regularly deploy forces there.

The latest U.S. and Chinese military maneuvers in the South China Sea come after an American naval strike group, centered on the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, was recently repositioned from the region to the Middle East amid tensions with Iran.

What To Know

Participating naval and air units in the two-day MCA included the U.S. Navy destroyer USS John Finn and the P-8A maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft, while the Philippine military deployed the frigate BRP Antonio Luna and the offshore patrol vessel BRP Gabriela Silang, along with FA-50 and A-29 aircraft for the joint exercise.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines said the drill took place in Bajo de Masinloc—a disputed maritime feature under China’s control, known as Huangyan Island—within the West Philippine Sea, a term the Philippines uses for the portion of the South China Sea within its exclusive economic zone, which extends up to 230 miles from the coast.

The drill, which marked the 11th MCA between the U.S. and the Philippines, featured a series of joint operations such as replenishment-at-sea and surface warfare exercises.

The MCA was conducted in accordance with international law and with due regard for the safety, navigational rights and freedoms of all nations, the U.S. 7th Fleet said, adding that such events have strengthened interoperability between American and Philippine forces.

Calling its alliance with the U.S. enduring, the Philippine military said both sides were committed to strengthening maritime security, enhancing operational interoperability and upholding a rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific region.

Senior Colonel Tian Junli, a spokesperson for the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Southern Theater Command, said on Tuesday that China conducted routine naval patrols in the South China Sea during the same period as the U.S.-Philippine exercise, adding that the command would firmly uphold regional peace and stability.

What People Are Saying

The U.S. Navy’s 7th Fleet said in a news release: “The U.S., along with our allies and partners, upholds the right to freedom of navigation and overflight and other lawful uses of the sea and international airspace, as well as respect to the maritime rights under international law.”

The Armed Forces of the Philippines said on social media: “The successful conduct of these activities enhanced coordination, tactical proficiency, and mutual understanding between allied forces, further strengthening their readiness to address maritime challenges and contribute to peace and stability in the region.”

What Happens Next

China and the U.S. are expected to maintain their military presence in the South China Sea amid maritime disputes among regional countries. It remains unclear whether the two sides encountered each other during their respective exercises this week.