Tensions have escalated in the South China Sea as the Philippines and the United States, a key US ally, began their second joint maritime drills on December 31, 2023. The Philippine military has confirmed the joint patrol amid ongoing tensions with China over disputed waters. In a parallel move, China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) conducted patrols on January 3rd and 4th, involving naval and air forces as per the Southern Theater Command's statement, which it described as routine. These drills follow a recent collision between Philippine and Chinese ships near a contested reef. China has denounced the joint US-Philippine exercises as provocative military activities, and two Chinese navy vessels reportedly shadowed the allied ships. Additionally, Chinese warships were said to eavesdrop on the US and Philippine naval drills. Amidst these developments, the Philippines has signaled an increase in military activities with the US and other allies, while China has been deploying coast guard vessels around Second Thomas Shoal, interfering with Philippine vessel movements.
#SouthChinaSea Map Shows Key Allegiances as US Navy Drills Ruffle Beijing - Newsweek #China and the U.S. have conducted competing military exercises in the disputed South China Sea less than a month after Philippine and Chinese ships collided near a contested reef in the area.… https://t.co/rPn1ctg6S1
South China Sea Map Shows Key Allegiances as US Navy Drills Ruffle Beijing https://t.co/uvfj8CSf74
#China deploying its coast guard vessels around Second Thomas Shoal and interferes with the movements of Philippine vessels as the #Philippines prepares for the first resupply mission of 2024. https://t.co/waFp1becP4
South China Sea map shows key allegiances as US Navy drills ruffle Beijing https://t.co/if3bYWitMi https://t.co/GnDpHggrbz
Chinese Warships Eavesdrop on Joint U.S., Philippine Naval Drills in South China Sea - USNI News https://t.co/VRiem1psLT
The Philippines signals more military activities with the US and other countries, after Beijing criticized the defense allies’ joint patrols in the South China Sea this week https://t.co/zuIrTkJDXC
Two Chinese vessels shadowed Philippine, US ships - Philippine military https://t.co/gDWxvdmb7X https://t.co/fhvaRNA0vP
⚠️ TWO CHINESE VESSELS SHADOWED PHILIPPINE, US SHIPS - PHILIPPINE MILITARY (Reuters) Two Chinese navy vessels shadowed Philippines and U.S. ships conducting joint patrols in the South China Sea, the Philippine military said on Thursday, as tensions flare in the region over…
The #Philippines Navy and the #US #IndoPacific Command are conducting joint maritime patrols in the West Philippine Sea from January 3 to 4. Two Chinese #PLA Navy ships (a destroyer and a frigate) are shadowing the PH & US Navy ships. Ships participating: 4 PH Navy ships: BRP… https://t.co/hSFGwJxXCa
🔸 TWO CHINESE NAVY VESSELS SHADOWED PHILIPPINES AND U.S VESSELS CONDUCTING JOINT PATROLS IN SOUTH CHINA SEA - PHILIPPINE MILITARY
#China slams what it called “provocative” moves by the #US and its ally the #Philippines in the South China Sea, as both sides held drills in the disputed waters. https://t.co/r0gC2yRnB5
NEW - China slams ‘provocative’ US moves in South China Sea as warships from China and the US conduct rival exercises in the sea https://t.co/G4VHlw9HGe
Chinese and #US warships were in the South #China Sea, conducting rival exercises in the disputed waters amid heightened tensions involving US ally the #Philippines. https://t.co/IOSdR55NWC
#BREAKING China slams US, Philippines 'provocative military activities' in South China Sea https://t.co/4KcJlMWjGF
Beijing and Washington both announced (separate) military deployments in the South China Sea on Wednesday, following heightened tensions between China and the Philippines in the disputed waterway. https://t.co/A3s0OiPKDM
China Holds Sea Patrols as US, Philippines Drill in Same Region https://t.co/7lbddypsoW
China said its navy and air force conducted patrols in the South China Sea, an event that comes as the US and the Philippines hold maritime drills in the same region https://t.co/ggCeqtQcDd
The Southern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army organized a routine patrol of naval and air forces in the South China Sea on Wednesday and Thursday, according to a statement. https://t.co/inS8ZXaG0C
The #Philippines and the #UnitedStates began a two-day joint patrol in the South China Sea, the Philippine military says in a statement, a move that would likely irk #China. https://t.co/wysE0UiAgJ
NEW - China announces ‘routine’ military patrols in disputed South China Sea https://t.co/cbl0lhPdWA
⚠️ CHINA CONDUCTS PATROLS IN SOUTH CHINA SEA AMID ONGOING RUN-INS (Reuters) China's military will conduct routine patrols with its naval and air forces in the South China Sea from Wednesday to Thursday, the military's Southern Theater Command said, as ongoing tensions simmer in…
🔴 CHINA: THE PLA CONDUCTS PATROLS IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA FROM JANUARY 3RD-4TH.
🇨🇳 CHINA SAYS PLA CONDUCTS PATROLS IN SOUTH CHINA SEA JAN. 3-4
Philippines and US conduct joint South China Sea patrol https://t.co/XGjkRL6qSl https://t.co/bnPWtR8Wro
Philippine military says second joint patrol with US underway in South China Sea https://t.co/MZxb5ttLvY https://t.co/6vOLMhGOze
The Philippine and US militaries began their second maritime drills in the South China Sea amid continuing tensions with China in the disputed waters https://t.co/pFkPReCYrG
Are the Philippines and China headed for war in the South China Sea? https://t.co/SMcoAKb4nx