China holds live-fire drills in waters near Luzon as Japan joins military exercises in Philippines

Source: Japan Times

China conducted military drills recently including live-fire exercises in waters east of the Philippines' Luzon Island, it said on Friday, as Manila ​and Washington host annual drills that extend toward disputed areas of the South China ‌Sea.

Over 17,000 ‌troops from the U.S., the Philippines and allies began their annual ​Balikatan military exercises this week, with combat troops from Japan joining for the first time amid persistent strains between Tokyo and Beijing.

The Chinese military's Southern Theater Command (STC) said on Friday ⁠its Naval Task Group 107 carried out activities that focused on live-fire shooting, sea-air coordination, rapid maneuvers and ⁠maritime replenishments to test integrated joint combat capabilities.
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Taiwan's government rejects ​China's ​sovereignty claims. Counter-landing live-fire drills will also take place in the Philippines' ​Zambales province on the South China Sea, about 230 km from the hotly contested Scarborough ⁠Shoal, a strategic atoll controlled by China.

Read more: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/04/25/asia-pacific/china-military-us-philippines-drills/