BEIJING, Feb 27 — China’s military said today it conducted a routine patrol in the South China Sea from February 23 to 26, and accused the Philippines of “disrupting” peace and stability by organising joint patrols with countries outside the region.

The military’s Southern Theatre Command will “resolutely safeguard ⁠China’s territorial ⁠sovereignty and ⁠maritime rights and interests, ⁠and ⁠firmly uphold regional peace and stability,” spokesperson ⁠Zhai Shichen said in a statement.

The navies of the Philippines, the US and Japan ⁠trained alongside each other in the South China Sea ⁠this week to ramp ⁠up cooperation ⁠among the military allies, the Philippines’ armed forces said today. — Reuters