U.S., Japan, India and Philippines challenge Beijing with naval drills in the South China Sea

Noice. Next time, get the Aussies in as well.

Freedom of navigation in International Waters.

Time for China to mine their territory.

I don't know how this FONOP is any different to all the other FONOPs carried out over the years. China is probably ROTFL and saying FONOPs all you like whilst we build fortresses, and militarize them, and BTW, we already control these waters with both naval and civillian assets.

IMHO, if the allied forces really wanted to make a statement, they'd do what China did to India a few years back, ie send troops accross the border and set up camp. A few hundreds marines camping on one of these man made island carrying out 'resolutely peaceful' surveying activities would send a message to China quite nicely.

Time for China to mine their territory.

Mining International waters is a crime and if one of those mines sunk a ship then China would be guilty of a major crime and be subject to either retaliation and or sanctions and fines and reparations.

China is probably ROTFL and saying FONOPs all you like whilst we build fortresses, and militarize them, and BTW, we already control these waters with both naval and civilian assets.

China has claimed those waters in the S.C.S but it has so far been unable to exercise any control over them. The International community considers those waters as "International waters" and China is unable to stop the F.O.N ops carried out by various countries. China makes protests but each time it happens, China looses face as it is not being obeyed. So it is doubtful they are ROTFL at all.

Time for China to mine their territory.

Wouldn't put it past them to make the attempt. It's only a matter of time before China instigates a "misadventure" in the region and claim they were "defending" their territory.

Good for U.S., Japan, India and Philippines (where is Australia?) to hold naval drills and challenge China.