China to Conduct Military Drills in Contested South China Sea

On April 7, both China and a coalition of four countries conducted military activities in the disputed South China Sea. China announced that it would conduct "combat patrols" in the area, warning against any actions that could destabilize the situation. The same day, the Philippines, the United States, Japan, and Australia held joint drills involving communication activities and officer maneuvers within the Philippine exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The participating countries aimed to strengthen their interoperability.