The first joint maritime drills conducted by the Philippines and India have triggered a rival exercise by China in the disputed waters of the South China Sea.

India and the Philippines launched a two-day naval drill near the Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea. What’s this exercise about? Why does the South China Sea matter? Here’s all you need to know.

The joint naval exercises — carried out over two days — are likely to antagonise China, which claims to control the entire contested maritime area.View on euronews