China’s military and coast guard conducted patrols around the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea on Tuesday. The move aims to safeguard Beijing’s territorial claims in the region.
The People’s Liberation Army’s Southern Theatre Command deployed naval and air forces for combat-readiness patrols in the shoal’s territorial waters and airspace. Separately, the China Coast Guard (CCG) carried out law-enforcement patrols in the same area. The CCG noted that it increased patrols this month to regulate ships involved in “illegal rights-violation activities,” though it did not provide specific details.
The Philippine embassy in Beijing did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the Chinese maneuvers.
Tensions Follow Joint US-Philippine Drills
Tuesday’s patrols directly followed joint military drills by the United States and the Philippines near Scarborough Shoal over the weekend. Washington stated that those exercises underscored a shared commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.
In response, China’s military confirmed it ran its own routine patrol over the weekend. Beijing also accused Manila of bringing outside nations into the region for patrols that undermine local peace and stability.
The Battle for Sovereignty
Beijing has steadily intensified its sovereignty claims over Scarborough Shoal in recent years. For instance, China established a national nature reserve at the shoal. The Philippines quickly denounced this move, calling it a “clear pretext for occupation”.
Earlier this month, Manila also reported that China installed and later removed a floating platform at the shoal’s entrance in late May. Beijing defended its actions, stating that all of its activities including scientific research fall within the legitimate rights of a sovereign state.
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