#south-china-sea

#south-china-sea

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The response from China's Defence Ministry came a day after Australia's Ministry of Defence issued a statement about an unsafe and unprofessional incident on Sunday, in which it said a Chinese Air Force fighter aircraft released flares in close proximity to an Australian Air Force plane conducting a maritime surveillance patrol in the South China Sea. For decades, the [Australian Defence Force] has undertaken maritime surveillance activities in the region and does so in accordance with international law, the Australian statement added.

The Philippine coastguard, in a statement, said a Chinese coastguard ship fired its water cannon at the BRP Datu Pagbuaya, a vessel belonging to Manila's fisheries bureau, at 9:15am (01:15 GMT) on Sunday. Minutes later, the same vessel deliberately rammed the stern of the Philippine fisheries bureau vessel, causing minor damage to the boat. No crew members were injured, it said.

We sternly warn the Philippine side to immediately stop provoking incidents and escalating tensions in the South China Sea, as well as bringing in external forces for backing such efforts that are destined to be futile, the spokesperson said. Any attempt to stir up trouble or disrupt the situation will not succeed. Philippine maritime and military authorities have not commented immediately. The warning comes after the US Asia Pacific Command said in a statement that Japan, the Philippines and the US conducted joint maritime exercises in the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone from Thursday to Saturday to strengthen regional cooperation and support a free and open Asia Pacific region.

The two-day joint military deployment that kicked off on Sunday is likely to anger China, which claims nearly the entire key waterway and has separate territorial disputes with the two Asian countries.