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By Ryan Chan
China News Reporter
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Naval vessels deployed by the United States and its Indo-Pacific allies for a joint drill in the disputed South China Sea were outnumbered by Chinese warships last week.
The military exercise, officially known as Maritime Cooperative Activity, or MCA, demonstrated a commitment to strengthening cooperation in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific region, the U.S. Seventh Fleet said in a Friday press release.
In response, the Chinese military said the war game, which involved the Philippines and non-regional countries including the U.S., Australia and New Zealand, "stirred up trouble" and "seriously undermined" peace and stability in the South China Sea.
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Why It Matters
China has claimed sovereignty over most of the South China Sea based on "historic rights," overlapping with claims by other countries, particularly the Philippines, a U.S. treaty ally that plays a key role in Washington's strategy to counter China's assertive behaviors. Such disputes have led to standoffs and clashes between rival forces.
The MCA was conducted ahead of a meeting between American and Chinese defense chiefs in Malaysia on Friday, where U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth raised concerns over China's activities in the South China Sea, warning that the U.S. will "stoutly defend" its interests and maintain the capabilities to do so in the region.
What To Know
The U.S. Seventh Fleet said the MCA was conducted within the Philippines' Exclusive Economic Zone, which extends 230 miles from the coastline, in the South China Sea between Thursday and Friday to strengthen the interoperability of participating forces.
Participating naval vessels included the U.S. destroyer USS Fitzgerald, the Australian frigate HMAS Ballarat, the New Zealand sustainment ship HMNZS Aotearoa and the Philippine frigate BRP Jose Rizal, along with a number of aircraft and helicopters.
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The drill was conducted in accordance with international law and with due regard for the navigational rights and freedoms of all nations, the U.S. Seventh Fleet said, adding that allied and partner countries uphold freedom of navigation and overflight rights.
Philippine ABS-CBN News reported that during the MCA, at least five Chinese naval vessels were detected nearby. One was later identified by military observers as the Type 815A spy ship, seen in a U.S. Navy photo of the Ballarat conducting the drill.
While the Chinese People's Liberation Army Southern Theater Command, responsible for military operations in the South China Sea, claimed it had deployed forces in response, the Philippine Navy said the Chinese naval presence did not affect the MCA.
Meanwhile, the Chinese Southern Theater Command said on Friday that its air and naval forces continuously patrolled Chinese territorial waters and airspace around Huangyan Dao in the South China Sea in October to strengthen the country's control.
Huangyan Dao is China's name for Scarborough Shoal, also known in the Philippines as Bajo de Masinloc, which lies 138 miles west of the Philippine island of Luzon. It has been under China's control with a constant Coast Guard presence since 2012.
What People Are Saying
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wrote on the social media platform X on Friday regarding his meeting with Chinese Defense Minister Admiral Dong Jun: "I highlighted the importance of maintaining a balance of power in the Indo-Pacific and emphasized U.S. concerns about China's activities in the South China Sea, around Taiwan, and toward U.S. allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific."
Chinese Air Force Senior Colonel Tian Junli, spokesperson for the People's Liberation Army Southern Theater Command, said in a statement on Saturday: "Facts have proved that the Philippines is the troublemaker in the South China Sea issue and the wrecker of regional stability."
What Happens Next
The U.S. and its allies and partners are expected to continue military activities in the South China Sea, signaling their resolve to counter China's attempts to change the status quo.
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