Naval vessels deployed by the United States and its Indo-Pacific allies for a joint drill in the disputed South China Sea were outnumbered by Chinese warships last week.

The military exercise, officially known as Maritime Cooperative Activity, or MCA, demonstrated a commitment to strengthening cooperation in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific region, the U.S. Seventh Fleet said in a Friday press release.

In response, the Chinese military said the war game, which involved the Philippines and non-regional countries including the U.S., Australia and New Zealand , "stirred up trouble" and "seriously undermined" peace and stability in the South China Sea .

Why It Matters

China has claimed sovereignty over most of the South China Sea based on " historic rights ," overlappin

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