China demonstrated fighter aircraft shooting missiles in the South China Sea on Thursday, as it held competing military exercises with the US in the heavily contested waterways.
The maneuvers come after violent standoffs between Beijing and Manila on disputed reefs, which saw vessels from both countries crash and Chinese ships fire water cannon at Philippine vessels.
China expressed rising displeasure and fury last month over the Philippines’ unexpectedly assertive moves, asking its neighbor to take “caution.”
In addition, images aired on Thursday by state broadcaster CCTV and the Chinese military showed what they called “live fire drills” going place over the sea.
The drills coincided with a two-day exercise by the US and the Philippines in the disputed waters, involving an aircraft carrier strike group led by the USS Carl Vinson.
The US said the drills would enhance its ability to coordinate on maritime domain awareness and other shared security interests.
Armed Forces of the Philippines Public Affairs Chief Xerxes Trinidad said on Thursday they took place between the Recto Bank and Scarborough Shoal, where clashes took place last month.
Beijing condemned them as “provocative military activities” aimed at “flaunting their military might”.
Foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said the exercises were “detrimental to management and control of the maritime situation and related disputes”.
Beijing, he pledged, would “continue to firmly safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests”.
Beijing claims almost the entire South China Sea and has ignored an international tribunal ruling that its assertions have no legal basis.
