The joint exercise carried out by naval and air units of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Southern Theater Command around China's Huangyan Dao in the South China Sea on Sunday is a timely and effective response to the Philippines' latest provocations, said a Chinese military expert.
The command said in a statement that the exercise is a necessary operation taken in response to the acts taken by certain countries that have undermined regional peace and stability.
Zhang Chi, a professor at China's National Defense University, echoed the statement in an interview with China Central Television (CCTV) on Sunday.
"Taking advantage of its role as co-chair of the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting-Plus Experts' Working Group on Maritime Security, the Philippine side has put aside the principle of consensus through consultation and co-opted relevant countries into conducting a joint military exercise in areas near China's Huangyan Dao. The exercise is in fact a provocation and propaganda in the name of security cooperation," Zhang said.
"Furthermore, three days ago, the Philippines broke its commitments and, despite China's dissuasion, sent a ship to deliver supplies to an illegally grounded Philippine vessel at Ren'ai Jiao," he said.
"By taking provocative actions and hyping up the incident as China celebrates a holiday, the Philippine side has seriously violated the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and gravely undermined peace and stability in the South China Sea," the professor noted.
China has sovereignty over Nanhai Zhudao (the South China Sea Islands), consisting of Dongsha Qundao (the Dongsha Islands), Xisha Qundao (the Xisha Islands), Zhongsha Qundao (the Zhongsha Islands) and Nansha Qundao (the Nansha Islands). China has historic rights in the South China Sea.
China also has internal waters, territorial sea, contiguous zone, exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, based on Nanhai Zhudao.
Nanhai Zhudao have long been widely recognized by the international community as part of China's territory.
China’s naval-air exercise timely, effective response to Philippines’ latest provocations: expert
