US, Vietnam And Philippines Denounce China Military Drills In Disputed South China Sea Waters

The Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS 10) conducts routine operations near the Chinese vessel Hai Yang Di Zhi 4 Hao on July 1. Photo: US Navy

SCMP: US, Vietnam and Philippines accuse Beijing of ‘unlawful maritime claims’ with five-day drill in South China Sea

* Exercises near the Paracel Islands break pledge not to militarise contested maritime region, says US Department of Defence
* Vietnam’s foreign ministry says ‘violation of sovereignty’ may harm China’s relationship with Asean

The United States, Vietnam and the Philippines have lashed out at China, accusing it of coercion as Beijing launches a military drill in a disputed part of the South China Sea.

In a statement, the US Department of Defence said it was concerned about the military exercises carried out around the Paracel Islands
from July 1 to 5.

China scheduled five days of drills from Wednesday near the Paracels. Vietnam has overlapping claims with China over the Paracels. China calls them the Xisha Islands, and Vietnam refers to them as the Hoang Sa Islands.

Read more ....

Update #1: Vietnam, Philippines denounce China military drills in disputed waters -- Reuters
Update #2: US, Vietnam rip China for military drills in disputed waters -- NYPost

WNU Editor: China is telling everyone to chill .... Beijing: South China Sea drills 'within sovereignty and reasonable' (CGTN).