China stages navy drill as US and Philippines embark on Balikatan 2026

AdvertisementChina’s military drillsChinaMilitaryChina stages navy drill as US and Philippines embark on Balikatan 2026

The Liaoning aircraft carrier appears to be among 14 large naval vessels snapped on manoeuvres in a satellite image circulating online

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Amber Wangin BeijingPublished: 8:29pm, 24 Apr 2026Beijing has held naval exercises in waters east of a Philippine island near Taiwan in an apparent response to nearby annual military drills hosted by Manila and Washington.

The People’s Liberation Army Southern Theatre Command said on Friday that a naval fleet had “recently” held drills in waters east of Luzon, the northernmost major island of the Philippines.

The drills were “a necessary action taken in response to the current regional situation”, said the command, which oversees the South China Sea.

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The deployment coincided with Monday’s launch of “Balikatan 2026”, a 19-day annual large-scale joint exercise led by the United States and the Philippines.

This year’s edition features an unprecedented level of participation from Japan and is taking place in areas facing the South China Sea and Taiwan, including Luzon.AdvertisementThe command did not say how many vessels took part in the PLA’s drill, saying only that it was led by the Type 055 guided-missile destroyer Zunyi. Footage posted online by the navy showed the Zunyi at the head of a four-ship formation.AdvertisementSelect VoiceSelect Speed0.8x0.9x1.0x1.1x1.2x1.5x1.75x00:0000:001.00x