China Conducts Combat Patrols Near Disputed South China Sea Shoal
China says its naval and air forces conducted combat readiness patrols near Scarborough Shoal amid ongoing maritime tensions with the Philippines.
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China Conducts Combat Readiness Patrols Near Disputed Scarborough Shoal
China's military conducted naval and air combat readiness patrols around Scarborough Shoal in the disputed South China Sea on October 30, according to the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Southern Theater Command.
The Chinese military described the operation as a response to what it called Philippine violations of China's maritime rights and provocative activities.
The command said it had intensified patrols throughout October to strengthen its ability to monitor and control the surrounding waters and airspace.
Separately, the China Coast Guard carried out law enforcement patrols near the shoal, citing similar concerns over Philippine activities.
Neither the PLA nor the China Coast Guard provided specific details about the alleged Philippine actions.
The operations followed renewed diplomatic tensions between Beijing and Manila during a regional defense meeting involving the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Scarborough Shoal remains a major flashpoint between China and the Philippines, with both countries claiming sovereignty over the strategically located maritime feature.
A 2016 international arbitration ruling rejected the legal basis for China's expansive maritime claims in the South China Sea, a decision Beijing continues to reject.
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