“China began five consecutive days of live-fire military drills in the South China Sea starting on the 24th, extending its territorial dispute with the Philippines. The exercises come shortly after a standoff between the two countries over the airspace above Scarborough Shoal — called Huangyan Island in China and Bajo de Masinloc in the Philippines — and after joint patrols between the Philippines and outside nations, raising the prospect of heightened military tension.”
“The Zhanjiang Maritime Safety Administration said the live-fire drills will take place daily for 10 hours (8 a.m. to 6 p.m.) from the 24th through the 28th in parts of the South China Sea, and it banned entry to the waters, Singapore’s Lianhe Zaobao reported on the 24th. According to information released by the authorities, the live-fire zone lies in open waters southeast of Guangdong Province’s Leizhou Peninsula, in the northern South China Sea and north of the eastern entrance to the Qiongzhou Strait…”
“Security cooperation between the Philippines and Japan is also strengthening. A defense agreement resembling a mutual logistics support pact, which the two countries signed earlier this year, recently took effect, according to Bloomberg. The agreement allows the two countries to provide each other with supplies and services during joint exercises or crisis situations.”