China has issued a warning as the U.S. and the Philippines carry out their premier annual joint-exercise amid flaring regional tensions.
"We will never allow anyone to sow chaos in the South China Sea, China's embassy in Manila declared Friday.
A reporter had asked the diplomatic mission whether China's coast guard would act in response to the ongoing 2024 Balikatan multilateral exercise if participating navies sailed near China-claimed features in the sea's Spratly Islands.
"We oppose external interference, muscle-flexing, provocations, and harassment in the South China Sea and oppose piecing together exclusive circles or bloc confrontation," the embassy representative said, echoing the words of the country's defense ministry the previous day.
"The Chinese military is closely following relevant moves and will resolutely respond with effective measures," he added.
Newsweek reached out to the Armed Forces of the Philippines with a written request for comment.
The Spratlys are home to Second Thomas Shoal, where the Philippines stations a marine outpost aboard a rusting 80-year-old warship the country ran aground 25 years ago to stake its claim.
China claims sovereignty over nearly all of South China Sea, including waters within the internationally recognized exclusive economic zones of the Philippines and several other neighbors.
In recent months, China's coast guard and paramilitary have mounted blockades of the reef during Manila's resupply missions, leading to clashes that left several Philippine sailors injured in March.
These incidents have the specter of a miscalculation that could draw Philippine Mutual Defense Treaty ally the U.S. into an open conflict with China.
The 39th edition of Balikatan, or "shoulder to shoulder" in Tagalog, kicked off on Monday and involves land, air, and sea assets, including in Palawan and Batanes, two Philippine provinces near China-claimed Taiwan.
Some 17,000 military personnel are participating, including from Australian defense forces and—for the first time—the French navy.
This year's edition of the exercise is not only the largest but the most complex, U.S. Marine Corps spokesperson Lt. Col. Brian Block previously told Newsweek, with the program simulating "seizing maritime terrain, HIMARS infiltrations, and coastal defense and maritime strike operations," among other scenarios.
Under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who took office in 2022, the Philippines has drawn Beijing's ire for publicizing its increasingly expansive activities in the region.
Manila is also investing heavily in military modernization and strengthening security ties with regional partners, including the U.S. as well as Japan and Australia.
Earlier this month, President Joe Biden hosted a first three-way summit with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
During Marcos' visit, Biden reaffirmed that Washington and Manila's seven-decades-old Mutual Defense Treaty extends to the entire Pacific, including the South China Sea.
At least a fifth of the world's trade is estimated to pass through the energy-rich waterway each year.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Micah McCartney is a reporter for Newsweek based in Taipei, Taiwan. He covers U.S.-China relations, East Asian and Southeast Asian ... Read more
To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, Click here.
