China’s navy will carry out combat drills in the South China Sea, the military’s official newspaper said yesterday, describing the move as part of regular annual exercises. Taiwan’s defense ministry said this week it had shadowed a Chinese aircraft carrier group traversing the Taiwan Strait in a southwesterly direction – meaning into the disputed South China Sea – in what Taiwan judged to be a drill. In a brief report on its WeChat account, the People’s Liberation Army Daily said the combat exercises would take place shortly, though it gave no details on timing, location or what ships would participate.

US warship sails near Phl's Panganiban Reef. (2018, March 24). The Philippine Star, pp. 1, 6.