Australia, Canada, the Philippines and the United States began a two-day air and naval exercise on Wednesday in disputed waters in the South China Sea.

Samuel Paparo, who heads the US "Indo-Pacific" Command, said in a joint statement that the maneuvers were to uphold "unhindered" passage in the South China Sea, and the four nations "stand together to address common maritime challenges and underscore our shared dedication to upholding international law and the rules-based order".

In an apparent response to their show of force in the waters, the Southern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army organized a joint combat patrol in the sea and airspace near Huangyan Island in the South China Sea to test the reconnaissance and early warning, rapid mobility, and joint strike capabilities of the theater troops.

When it comes to military activities that disrupt stability in the South China Sea, create hotspot issues, and undermine regional peace and stability, the PLA said in a news release that "all is under control".

According to the Philippine military, three Chinese navy ships "tailed" the allies' maneuvers off the western coast of the Philippines.

All the regional countries, including the Philippines, are well aware that such exercises are just an excuse for the US to flex its muscles in the Asia-Pacific as an integral part of its overall China-containment strategy.

The waters of the South China Sea would arguably be home to the most peaceful and stable international trade routes were it not for the military activities of the US and some of its allies. Calling white black, Washington simply coerces and cajoles US allies in the region and beyond to sail under its false colors.

Most of its allies, including the other three countries taking part in the exercise this time, as well as Japan, have actually kept their communication channels with China open and stable. Their efforts to strengthen win-win cooperation and communication with China have markedly intensified recently, taking advantage of many multilateral and bilateral occasions.

The uncertainties in the US' domestic political situation are growing with the approach of the presidential election, and an increasing number of US allies have begun distancing themselves from the Joe Biden administration's China-containment strategy, particularly in the fields of economy, industry, trade and technology, where they were sustaining huge losses in exchange for a thank-you pat on the back from the US. The de facto bankruptcy of the Biden administration's "chip war" testifies to the reluctance of the US' allies to go all-in with the US.

The only reason why the US club still seems in good shape when it comes to security-related initiatives is that the other club members have nothing to lose by acquiescing to the US' demands on this front as long as there is no open conflict with China.

They are also convinced that Beijing will clearly differentiate them from the US provided they maintain healthy and stable bilateral ties with China, discerning their roles, intentions and circumstances are distinct from those of the US.

Beijing's willingness and openness to maintain normal and relations with them, despite their provocative antics, is in sharp contrast with Washington's coercive and hypocritical approach to relations with them. The more the latter tries to force its allies to stay in rank, the more they will balk at the fence. The US values displays of loyalty, however shallow; China cares about practical results.

By doubling down on its China-containment endeavors, the Biden administration is trying to give US voters an impression that "all is under control". But the harder it does that, the more it sends the opposite message.