MANILA/TOKYO – Japan, the United States and Australia are considering sending their vessels carrying aircraft to the Philippines to conduct a trilateral naval drill next week in the South China Sea, sources close to the matter said Friday.

The planned exercise set for Wednesday comes amid mounting tensions between China and the Philippines after a Chinese coast guard vessel fired a water cannon at a Philippine military-chartered boat near the Manila-controlled Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea earlier this month.

Read More–>Japan, U.S., Australia eye ship deployment to Philippines for drill