International Naval Exercises Near Philippines Angers China

What Happened?

This week the U.S. 7^th Fleet participated in naval exercises near the Philippines involving Japanese, Australian, and Filipino forces. 

U.S. Navy officials characterized the exercises as a “Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity” conducted within the Philippines Economic Exclusion Zone, while Chinese officials described the activities as a “deliberate attempt to destabilize the region.” 

Beyond criticism of U.S. and allied forces relayed through Chinese state media, China appeared to take no further actions. Additional exercises were planned to take place the following week, though neither U.S. nor Filipino officials provided any further details as to the location or purpose.

Why it Matters

Beijing claims the entire South China Sea as part of its own territory, while other nations on the edge of the same area such as Philippines and Vietnam have frequently disputed Chinese territorial claims. 

When the United States Navy conducts operations with the Philippines, China regards such activities as an effort to undermine Chinese claims to the South China Sea.

According to the U.S. Navy’s 7^th Fleet, the purpose of this most recent exercise was to “strengthen the interoperability of our defense/armed forces doctrines, tactics, techniques, and procedures.” 

From a technical standpoint, such exercises provide U.S. and allied forces with an opportunity to practice joint maneuvers and to resolve potential problems such as communication and planning.

But there are political dimensions to such activities as well. These kinds of joint operations tend to increase ties between host governments and to instill a sense of alliance between the participants.

At stake isn’t just control of vital waterways for commercial shipping though which pass some $5 trillion dollars’ worth of goods annually. It’s also potential resources buried beneath the ocean floor. 

There are likely massive deposits of untapped oil and gas resources under the sea floor. Whoever controls the surface waterways will also control access to those natural resources. And that could be worth trillions of dollars if extracted during the next several decades. 

Because China is one of six nations who exert overlapping claims on various part of the South China Sea, the area is a potential flash point for a new conflict. 

Military vessels and aircraft from all six nations routinely operate in the area, and China has taken to building man-made islands with runways and other infrastructure for military assets to increase its ability to project power in the region. 

How it Affects You

As the race to control the South China Sea heats up and surrounding nations deploy more military assets and resources into the region, the likelihood for an incident which could trigger a new conflict is increasing. 

Which is why American involvement is so significant. 

The immense power of the U.S. Navy gives any allied nations an edge in the contest to control the South China Sea, and Beijing is keenly aware of it. 

China has been catching up to the U.S. in terms of military power in recent years, and the South China Sea is a place where a new war could start.