South China Sea: Chinese military holds joint patrol around contested Scarborough Shoal
- PLA ‘combat preparation patrol’ held at the same time as joint exercise involving Philippine, US, Canadian and Australian forces
The Chinese military conducted a joint sea and air patrol around the disputed Scarborough Shoal on Wednesday amid continuing tensions in the South China Sea.
The Southern Theatre Command of the People’s Liberation Army said Wednesday’s patrol “aimed to test the theatre troops’ capacities in reconnaissance, early warning, rapid mobility and joint strikes”.
“All military activities that disrupt the situation in the South China Sea, create hotspots and undermine regional peace and stability, are well under control,” it said in a post on the social media platform Weibo.
09:23
History, money and military: why the South China Sea is so important to Beijing
Scarborough Shoal, known as Huangyan Island in China and Panatag Shoal in the Philippines, is claimed by both Beijing and Manila and has been effectively controlled by China since an intense stand-off in 2012. It is about 220km (120 nautical miles) west of the main Philippine island Luzon.
Tensions have escalated between the two countries in recent years, mainly centred on Scarborough Shoal, Second Thomas Shoal and Sabina Shoal, where there have been a series of confrontations in recent months.
The PLA patrol came on the same day the Philippine military held its first joint drill with the United States, Canada and Australia.
It followed the first joint exercise between the Philippines and Japan last week.
According to a joint statement, the four militaries will conduct the exercise within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone until Thursday to show their “collective commitment to strengthen regional and international cooperation in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific”.
