Sea not an arena for flexing 'gunboat muscles': China on US-Philippines joint drills in South China Sea

After Filipino and American troops kicked off three weeks of joint military drills in the South China Sea on Monday, a Chinese military official warned that the sea should not be an arena in which countries can flex their “gunboat muscles”.

According to a Guardian report, Zhang Youxia, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission which oversees China’s armed forces, while addressing a naval conference in Qingdao on Monday, said, “Reality has shown that those who make deliberate provocations, stoke tensions, or support one side against another for selfish gains will ultimately only hurt themselves.”

“Carrying out maritime containment, encirclement and island blockades will only plunge the world into a vortex of division and turbulence," Zhang added.

The annual Balikatan exercises, also known as “shoulder-to-shoulder” drills, commenced on Monday and are scheduled to continue until 10th May. Marking a significant shift, these drills will extend beyond the Philippines’ territorial waters, reaching 12 nautical miles offshore, and will actively engage the Philippines Coast Guard (PCG). Other countries such as Australia and France will also participate, albeit in secondary or observer capacities.

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This year’s exercises mark the second largest in its history, involving 17,600 personnel who will simulate operations aimed at reclaiming islands near Taiwan. While the Philippines military maintains that these exercises are not specifically linked to the actions of any particular country, many observers perceive them as a response to China’s activities in the region.

Zhang, who is a close ally of President Xi Jinping, said China was committed to resolving maritime disputes through dialogue but wouldn’t allow itself to be “abused”, The Guardian quoted him as saying.

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China claims almost the entire waterway, a key route for international trade, and also considers self-ruled Taiwan to be part of its territory.

“We’re going to show the people of the Philippines and the world that we’ve gotten better and we’re never going to stop doing so,” AFP quoted Lieutenant General William Jurney, commander of US Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, as saying said at the opening ceremony in Manila.

“When we get better the Philippines gets stronger, safer and more secure,” Jurney added.

In response to China’s growing influence, the United States has been bolstering alliances with countries in the Asia-Pacific region, including the Philippines.

Washington and Manila are treaty allies and have deepened their defence cooperation since Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos took office in 2022.

While the Philippines is poorly armed, its proximity to the South China Sea and Taiwan would make it a key partner for the United States in the event of a conflict with China.

“The purpose of armed forces, why we exist, is really to prepare for war,” AFP quoted Philippine Colonel Michael Logico as saying ahead of the drills.

“There’s no sugarcoating it… for us not to prepare, that’s a disservice to the country,” Logico added.

With inputs from agencies