China begins naval exercises in South China Sea amid US drills, ahead of Indian Navy’s expedition

China began five-day-long naval exercises in the disputed South China Sea, amid the US drills being conducted in the Indo-Pacific region along with Britain, Australia and Japan, ahead of Indian Navy's expedition.

China on Friday kicked off five-day-long naval drills in the disputed South China Sea, setting up a vast navigation restriction zone amid the all-domain military exercises being conducted by the US in the Indo-Pacific region along with Britain, Australia and Japan, the first of its kind in more than four decades. The Indian Navy is also deploying a naval task group comprising four frontline warships to the South China Sea (SCS) Western Pacific and South East Asia for over two months beginning early August, in a significant move aimed at enhancing its profile in the strategically key sea lanes.