South China Sea Tensions Rise as US-Japan-Philippines Drill and Vietnam Ship Sinks

The US and Japan joined the Philippines in five-day maritime exercises in the South China Sea, a move that has triggered sharp accusations from Beijing. The drills, running from July 21 to 25, brought together warships, coast guard vessels, and fighter aircraft in a show of allied interoperability. This comes just days after Philippine and Chinese vessels clashed near Second Thomas Shoal.

"China accused the Philippines of holding patrols with foreign...