China holds ‘combat patrol’ in South China Sea amid US-led war games
Al JazeeraBeijing’s naval and air patrols in the disputed waterway take place as US, Japan, Australia and the Philippines conduct the first joint drills. China has conducted military “combat patrols” in the disputed South China Sea, as the United States holds the first joint military exercises with the Philippines, Japan and Australia. Beijing’s People’s Liberation Army Southern Theater Command said it was organising “joint naval and air combat patrols in the South China Sea”. Top US officials have repeatedly declared the US’s “ironclad” commitment to defending the Philippines against an armed attack in the South China Sea – to the consternation of Beijing. “Under the guise of ‘protecting fishing’, Philippine government ships have illegally violated and provoked, organised media to deliberately incite and mislead, continuing to undermine stability in the South China Sea,” spokesman Gan Yu said.