Last week, China didn’t just pump money into its economy—it also showed off its military power, getting ready for what seems like an inevitable fight with the U.S. It’s not a question of “if” but “when.”

This past weekend, China’s military said they were running air and naval drills in a disputed part of the South China Sea.  All this happened just hours after China’s top diplomat met with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to talk about calming things down. Once again, it was perfect timing for the world to roll its eyes and laugh at Blinken’s efforts.

The news, first reported by Reuters, followed an announcement from Australia and the Philippines about teaming up for a joint maritime activity with Japan, New Zealand, and (of course) the United States. The exercise will take place in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, which happens to overlap with China’s claims in the South China Sea.

To make things even more interesting, China’s military maneuvers were announced not long after its Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, met with Blinken in New York. The talks focused on preventing conflict in—you guessed it—the South China Sea. Classic timing, right?

Earlier this year, in March, Blinken reassured the Philippines that the U.S. had its back, calling their defense partnership “ironclad.” This happened after the Philippines accused China of throwing its weight around with aggressive coast guard deployments and suspiciously active “fishing vessels” (probably more than just fishermen, if you catch the drift). Yet here we are, months later, with China still playing a maritime game of chicken.

During last week’s meeting, Wang made sure to remind Blinken that China prefers to settle disputes through “dialogue and consultation,” which sounds nice, but actions speak louder than words. Right after the meeting, China fired up its drills just to show how little it cares about U.S.’s attempts at diplomacy. And let’s be real, Blinken probably didn’t leave the meeting feeling too warm and fuzzy about China’s idea of peace talks.

China’s drills, described as “routine,” will focus on early warning systems, reconnaissance, and patrols around Scarborough Shoal, a small but hotly contested area in the South China Sea. According to the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), the goal of these drills is to safeguard “national sovereignty, security, and maritime rights and interests.”

Scarborough Shoal is located just 124 miles off the coast of the Philippines and sits inside its exclusive economic zone. The area is a popular fishing spot, and there are disputes over the surrounding waters among China, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, and Vietnam. The Permanent Court of Arbitration declared that China’s extensive claims in the South China Sea weren’t valid under international law in 2016.  China has elected to ignored that ruling. The tribunal didn’t touch the issue of sovereignty over Scarborough Shoal, but it did say the area is a traditional fishing ground for multiple nations. China, of course, shrugged that off, too.

If you thought the tension couldn’t get worse, a report from a Beijing-based think tank added fuel to the fire. The report claimed that warships from various nations collectively spend over 20,000 days annually in the South China Sea, with more than 30,000 military aircraft flying through the region. The U.S. Navy alone accounts for about 1,600 of those days, plus an unknown number of submarine missions. Basically, the South China Sea is a militarized parking lot.

While diplomats like Blinken talk about peace and “mutual respect,” China is conducting drills, patrols, and other displays of power in the South China Sea. With everyone asserting their claims, it’s clear that tensions in the region will persist for the foreseeable future.