China says Philippines is stoking tensions with large-scale Scarborough Shoal drill

China has accused the Philippines of “deliberately stoking maritime tensions” following reports Manila had warned it would stage military exercises across a large area of the disputed China-sea" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="8346" data-entity-type="location">South China Sea for more than two months.The move represents the first external military challenge facing China after two senior generals were placed under investigation on suspicion of corruption, and could serve as a test of Beijing’s ability to handle such tests at a highly sensitive time.The Philippine civil aviation authority issued a notice to airmen that set aside an expansive area north of Scarborough Shoal for military activities between January 21 and March 31, according to mainland Chinese and Taiwanese media.Days later, the Philippines also carried out this year’s first joint maritime operation with the United States in the China-sea" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="8346" data-entity-type="location">South China Sea, a move condemned by Beijing for undermining regional peace and stability and drawing in “external powers”.Asked about the reports on Thursday, Chinese defence ministry spokesman Jiang Bin accused Manila of using the drill as a pretext to carry out “infringements and provocations”.“The Philippines, under the pretext of conducting military exercises, seeks to encroach upon [the shoal] and provoke, deliberately stoking maritime tensions,” Jiang said.