Japan conducts first submarine drill in disputed South China Sea

Japan has carried out its first submarine drill in the disputed South China Sea, a move that could provoke Beijing which claims most of the disputed waters. In a statement, Japan's defence ministry said that the anti-submarine drill was conducted on Thursday in the region to improve strategic techniques. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe defended the drill, which he said does not aim to target a particular



nation. 

China claims most of the resource-rich South China Sea, despite competing claims from Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang declined to confirm the drill, but said Japan should act cautiously and avoid doing anything which would harm regional peace and stability.