Chinese military patrols Scarborough Shoal, 5 days after US-Philippine drills in area

China carried out naval and air patrols around Scarborough Shoal on Saturday – just days after joint US-Philippine drills nearby – underscoring tensions in the disputed South China Sea waters.

The PLA Southern Theatre Command issued a statement on the “combat readiness patrols” near the shoal, which China calls Huangyan Island.

They were aimed at countering “infringement and provocative actions by individual countries”, it said, in a thinly veiled reference to the United States and rival Scarborough claimant the Philippines.

In an unusual move, the People’s Liberation Army also revealed rare details of the operation, including a bomber flight path over the disputed area.

State media reported that the patrols involved multiple aircraft, including H-6K bombers armed with anti-ship missiles, supported by the navy’s Type 054A guided-missile frigates Hengshui and Dali, as well as coastguard vessels.

Citing the command statement, state news agency Xinhua said Chinese naval and air forces had stepped up patrols and vigilance near Scarborough Shoal in January to “resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and security” and uphold regional peace and stability.

South China Morning Post