Beijing, 2 August 2022 (TDI): Chinese Ambassador to ASEAN Deng Xijun said that China will hold military exercises in the South China Sea from 2-6 August 2022.
A Chinese envoy from Hainan Maritime Safety Administration said that maritime entry will be prohibited during the drill.
#China will hold military exercises in #SouthChinaSea from Aug 2 to Aug 6. Entry will be prohibited, said Hainan Maritime Safety Administration on Monday. @PDChina pic.twitter.com/QwR9xUMJ9S
— libijian李碧建 (@libijian2) August 1, 2022
South China Sea dispute
South China Sea (SCS) is full of natural resources and an estimated 11 billion barrels of undiscovered oil and 190 trillion cubic feet of untapped natural gas. There are competing claims of China, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam over the sea.
Countries started making claims to islands and different zones in the South China Sea as early as the 1970s which have abundant natural resources and fishing grounds.
China claims that under international law, the global powers do not conduct military exercises in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in SCS.
On the other side, the US claims that they are free to navigate across EEZs in the sea under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). China’s escalating efforts to physically enlarge existing islands or to construct altogether new islands in the South China Sea for its economic interests.
The United States has conducted Freedom of Navigation Operations (FONOPs) and increased assistance for Southeast Asian allies to counter China’s aggressive territorial claims to secure its political, security, and economic interests in the sea.
Japan has also provided military weapons and ships to the Philippines and Vietnam in reaction to China’s expansion to strengthen their maritime security capabilities and discourage Chinese aggression.
China responds to Nancy Pelosi’s expected visit to Taiwan
US and China warned each other about Taiwan. Jo Biden threatened Xi Jinping to not alter the Taiwan’s individual status. Xi also urged Biden to accept the idea of a single China.
Chinese army has also been actively building up its military power near Taiwan since 2022. China also threatened Taiwan with war if the United States recognized the independence of the island. The United States is ready to retaliate militarily if China tries to annex Taiwan.
Currently, Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi travels to countries like Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan, and South Korea. Furthermore, the US provides support to these countries.
Pelosi will visit Taiwan during her ongoing visit to Asia. She will travel to Taiwan for consultations with government representatives on the autonomous island, Taiwan that China has claimed to control. China, however, has threatened to attack Taiwan militarily in response to such a decision.
China reaffirmed on Monday that it is closely monitoring reports of Pelosi’s planned travel and threatened a firm response and severe countermeasure if she insisted on making the trip to Taipei.
In preparation for a possible visit from Nancy Pelosi, the Taiwanese Ministry of Defense raised its combat capability levels due to Chinaʼs open threats to use troops. American warships also sailed to Taiwan’s coast against China.
The US Defense Department is working to protect Pelosi and to monitor Chinese operations in the area.
Chinese official’s remarks.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said, “We are fully prepared for any eventuality. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) will never sit by idly. China will take strong and resolute measures to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
Lijian also said it would be “a gross interference in China’s internal affairs” if Pelosi visits Taiwan, and warned it would lead to “very serious developments and consequences”.
He added, “If she dares to go, then let us wait and see.”
In the Taiwan Strait, which separates China and Taiwan, PLA ships have been deployed close to the median line, and many military aircraft have flown around the line.
During the military exercises in the South China sea, no third-party ships are to approach the area at this time.
