US, Philippines troop conduct mock drill in South China Sea
US marines and Filipino troops Wednesday staged mock assault to retake a small island in Ulugan Bay on the western coast of the Philippines, not far from a real-life standoff between Manila and Beijing over the South China Sea island Huangyan.
Part of the annual US-Philippine war games on the western island of Palawan, the exercise is being conducted despite Beijing's warnings about the South China Sea belonging to it.
The standoff against Beijing in the waters of Huangyan Island has entered the fifteenth day. China last week warned against the drills saying they would raise the risk of armed conflict.
China has criticized Philippines' expanded claim to the Huangyan Island and rejected that it had the freedom of navigation over the entire South China Sea, China Daily reports.
Six countries, including China, Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan, claim sovereignty over mineral rich areas in the South China Sea. According to a US Energy Information Administration report the disputed region has proven and yet to be discovered oil and oil-equivalent gas reserves of 213 billion barrels.
The location of the military maneuvers is seen an indication that the US supports Philippines claims.
Speaking in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin said that Huangyan Island has been an integral part of China since ancient times, and the Philippines' claim was complicating the situation.
"Expanding the Huangyan Island dispute to involve the entire South China Sea makes no sense," Liu said.
Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez has said that China was posing 'a potential threat to freedom of navigation as well as unobstructed trade in the area.'
Hernandez has indicated that Philippines is planning to raise the island issue during the upcoming talks with the US.
Zhang Hua, spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines, has emphasized that China is ready to resolve the issues through diplomatic consultations.
Source: The Asia News.Net
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