Manila, June 16 -- As the Philippines and Japan conducted a joint drill in South China Sea, the Chinese military held joint sea and air patrols in the disputed waters.

China's People Liberation Army Southern Theater Command organized joint sea and air patrol in the South China Sea on Saturday, its spokesperson Colonel Tian Junli, stated on Sunday, emphasizing that any military activities that stir up trouble in the South China Sea and create hotspot issues are fully under control, Chinese media outlet Global Times said.

In a statement released by the PLA Southern Theatre Command, cited by Global Times, Tian said that "the Philippines' act of rallying countries from outside the region to organise so-called joint patrols escalated securit...