China holds military drills in South China Sea after talks with U.S.

28/9/2024 13:22

        Chinese air and sea forces are conducting manoeuvres in a disputed area of the South China Sea, the military said on Saturday, hours after the country's top diplomat discussed ways of reducing regional tension with his U.S. counterpart.
        
        The news comes after Australia and the Philippines said their militaries would hold a joint maritime activity with Japan, New Zealand and the United States in the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines.
        
        The Chinese drills will include "routine" early warning and reconnaissance exercises as well as patrols around Scarborough Shoal, the Southern Theatre Command of the People's Liberation Army said in a statement, but gave no details.
        
        One of Asia's most contested features, the Scarborough Shoal is 200 km off the Philippines, within its exclusive economic zone.