Chinese navy patrols South China Sea amid US-Philippine drills

KARACHI, Pakistan

The Chinese navy conducted a patrol in the South China Sea as the US and the Philippines carried out joint military exercises above the disputed waters, state media reported.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Southern Theater Command conducted routine patrols in the South China Sea, but recently, the Philippines has repeatedly violated China's maritime rights and engaged in provocative actions while colluding with external forces to organize “joint patrols,” Xinhua News reported, citing senior Colonel Tian Junli, the command’s spokesperson.

Chinese naval and air forces maintained close tracking and monitoring of these activities throughout the process, he added.

Tian said that troops of the Southern Theater Command remain on high alert, vowing to resolutely safeguard China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and uphold peace and stability in the South China Sea.

China and the Philippines have long been locked in a sovereignty dispute over the South China Sea.

The Philippine and US air forces conducted a joint patrol over the South China Sea as part of ongoing defense cooperation.

Over 16,000 Filipino and US soldiers are also participating in the joint "Balikatan 25” exercises in the Philippines and its surrounding waters which run from April 21 through May 9 for a "full battle test" in the face of shared regional security concerns.

China has termed the drills "provocative."

*Writing by Aamir Latif