China's military and coast guard carried out patrols near disputed waters in the South China Sea on Sunday, a day after the Philippines said it remained under threat from Beijing despite a recent easing in U.S.-China tensions. The patrols were part of a broader effort to assert China's claims over the region.
The Scarborough Shoal, located in waters that Manila calls the West Philippine Sea, is one of Asia's most contested maritime features and has become a frequent flashpoint between China and the Philippines over sovereignty and fishing rights. The dispute has resulted in repeated maritime standoffs, at times resulting in collisions between vessels and injuries to personnel.
The People's Liberation Army's Southern Theatre Command said in a statement on the WeChat platform that its naval and air units carried out combat readiness patrols in the territorial sea and airspace of the atoll and its surrounding areas. The command stated that such patrols serve as an effective countermeasure to cope with all sorts of rights violations and provocative acts.
China's coast guard also conducted law enforcement patrols near the Scarborough Shoal, adding that since this month it had dealt with ships engaged in 'illegal rights-violation activities in accordance with laws and regulations.' The exact nature of these activities is not specified.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines said the exercise with the U.S. from Tuesday to Saturday, including visit-board-search-and-seizure drills, underscored both countries' commitment to stronger defense ties, improved maritime domain awareness and support for a rules-based order at sea.
The Philippine embassy in Beijing did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment on the recent patrols by China's military and coast guard. The embassy has previously expressed concerns over China's claims in the South China Sea.
Speaking to Reuters on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia's premier defense forum, Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said Manila remains under 'severe threat' from China territorially and politically, despite a recent thaw in U.S.-China tensions following a summit between Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping this month.
The Philippines and China have been locked in repeated maritime standoffs in the South China Sea in recent years, at times resulting in collisions between vessels and injuries to personnel. The dispute over sovereignty and fishing rights remains unresolved, with China's claims being contested by several countries in the region.
The escalating tensions highlight the need for a rules-based order at sea, which is essential for maintaining regional stability.
