Beijing in turn announces military exercises in disputed waters of the China Sea. Announcement comes as the United States, Japan and Australia conduct joint exercises in Philippine territorial waters.
A series of incidents near disputed reefs has regularly given rise to an increase in tensions between Beijing and Manila since the end of 2023. Other coastal countries (Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei) have competing claims in the South China Sea and each controls several islands. The China Sea is a vast maritime area through which much of the trade between Asia and the rest of the world passes.