China holds another round of naval drills in South China Sea

A look at recent developments in South China Sea, where China is pitted against smaller neighbors in multiple territorial disputes over islands, coral reefs and lagoons. waters are a major shipping route for global commerce and are rich in fish and possible oil and gas reserves.

China is holding ar round of military drills in South China Sea amid an uptick in such activity in area highlighting growing tensions.

Maritime Safety ministration said exercises would run from Monday through Sunday. It warned outside vessels to steer 5 nautical miles (9.26 kilometers) clear of drill area but orwise gave details.

China anunced late last month that it h held drills in South China Sea involving long-range bombers and or aircraft.

Chinese forces have also confronted U.S. Naval vessels conducting “freedom of navigation operations” near Chinese-held islands, as well as forces from Australia and countries that challenge China’s claim to entire strategic waterway.

CHINA SEEKS RENEWED ASEAN SUPPORT

China reportedly called toger diplomats from Association of Souast Asian Nations last month to seek ir backing after a new diplomatic challenge from U.S.

It’s t clear if meeting, reported Monday by Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post newspaper, yielded any immediate gains as talks between China and ASEAN remain in limbo.

meeting in Beijing was called three weeks after U.S. rejected nearly all of Beijing’s South China Sea claims and in effect sided with Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei in each of ir territorial spats with Beijing. China responded by saying U.S. was trying to sow discord and was meddling in an Asian dispute to flex its muscles and incite a confrontation.

According to newspaper report, during meeting in Beijing in early August, a Chinese official expressed concern about risk from military activities by “n-regional countries,” a term Beijing uses to refer to U.S. as well as its allies Japan and Australia.

PHILIPPINES PROTESTS EQUIPMENT SEIZURE

Philippine government filed a diplomatic protest after Chinese forces seized fishing equipment set up by Filipis in disputed Scarborough Shoal.

China seized shoal after a tense sea standoff in 2012, and Philippines brought its disputes to international arbitration following year. tribunal in 2016 invalidated China’s claims to virtually entire South China Sea, but Beijing continues to igre and defy decision.

Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila said in a statement Thursday that Philippines “also resolutely objected” to China continuing to issue rio challenges to Philippine aircraft patrolling over disputed waters.

A Chinese government spokesperson responded Friday that its coast guard was enforcing law in Chinese waters, and that Philippine aircraft h harmed China’s sovereignty and threatened its security.

VIETNAM ASKS MALAYSIA TO INVESTIGATE SHOOTING

Vietnam has asked Malaysia to investigate a coast guard vessel that fired shots at two Vietnamese fishing boats, killing one fisherman.

Malaysian Maritime Enforcement ncy said officers fired in self-defense after two Vietnamese boats entered Malaysian waters late on Aug. 16. Fishermen aboard threw gasoline bombs and tried to ram ir vessel. One Vietnamese fisherman was killed and 18 ors were detained, ncy said.

Vietnam’s Foreign Ministry asked Malaysia to investigate and “reprimand officers who killed Vietnamese citizen and treat or Vietnamese fishermen and ir properties in a humane way.”

US STRIKE GROUP RETURNS TO SOUTH CHINA SEA

U.S. Navy says aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan and its strike group entered South China Sea earlier this month and have been carrying out air operations.

China routinely objects to U.S. naval activity in sea, especially when more than one strike group is present, as happened earlier this year, and when y involve operations with navies from or countries.

strike group includes carrier, its air wing, guided missile cruiser USS Antietam, and destroyers USS Mustin and USS Rafael Peralta.

force “conducted flight operations with fixed and rotary wing aircraft, and high-end maritime stability operations and exercises,” its commander said in a news release.

“Operations in South China Sea continue to demonstrate enduring U.S. commitment to allies and partners, and a cooperative approach to regional stability and freedom of seas,” release said.

(Im credit: AP)