A few days before the international arbitration on the disputed islands, the Chinese government launches massive exercises in the area and blocks access to civilians. Tension mounts among nations that claim the same territories.
Beijing (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The Chinese Navy has begun impressive military exercises "with real missiles" in the South China Sea, concentrated in an area near the Xisha Islands. State news agency Xinhua used the Chinese name for Paracel Islands, disputed with the Philippines that they administer, announcing the maneuvers.
The military exercises were launched a few days before the decision of the International Tribunal on the territorial dispute, expected next Tuesday (July 12). The Chinese Maritime Safety Administration said that access to civilians will be prohibited during the period of exercises, until 11 July.
The navy has carried out "war" exercises with "real missiles" in the area between the Paracel archipelago and the Chinese island of Hainan (South China), according to reports carried by the PLA Daily, the official army newspaper, on its website . The state television, CCTV, has released images of cruisers and destroyers carrying missiles, helicopters taking off and submarines.
The Chinese government claims most of the South China Sea, including sovereignty over the disputed Spratly and Paracel Islands, in opposition to Vietnam, Taiwan, the Philippines, Brunei and Malaysia. Some US$ 5 trillion in trade goes through the sea. Beijing has started to build artificial islands with military installations.
To counter Beijing’s militarisation of the South China Sea, the Philippines have turned to the United Nations tribunal.
China has refused to take part in the proceedings saying the tribunal has no jurisdiction in the matter. It argues that territorial disputes in the region should be settled by direct negotiations between the two nations involved.