The Chinese military and coastguard on Saturday launched a sea and air combat readiness patrol around Scarborough Shoal, known as Huangyan Island in China, to “further strengthen its control and defend its sovereignty”, according to an official statement.
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The show of force came a day after China’s state broadcaster aired rare footage of Chinese military drills in contested waters near the Spratly Islands, known as the Nansha Islands in China, highlighting Beijing’s ability to take military action in the event of “sudden military threats.”
The Southern Theatre Command of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) said it had deployed forces to patrol the waters and airspace as part of its continuous efforts this month to strengthen control over the area.
A statement released by the command on Saturday said the Chinese coastguard had also patrolled the area, adding that the coastguard had been monitoring, warning and expelling ships that had entered the waters.
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Last month, the Chinese patrol vessel Zhongnan was involved in an incident with the Philippine ship BRP Cabra around 36 nautical miles (67km or 41 miles) south of the shoal in the South China Sea.
