PLA encounters in South China Sea mostly ‘safe’, interceptions triggered by ‘4 breaches’

South China Sea Strategic Situation Probing Initiative releases report on navigation and overflight situations in vast, disputed waterway

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PLA Navy destroyers take part in combat drills in the South China Sea in June. According to the think tank SCSPI, frictions with foreign forces mainly develop when they approach the Chinese mainland or its territorial waters and airspace. Photo: CCTV

Published: 7:26pm, 27 Sep 2024Updated: 7:29pm, 27 Sep 2024

Encounters with the Chinese military in the South China Sea are largely “safe and professional”, and the People’s Liberation Army will only intercept foreign forces in the disputed waters under four specific conditions, an influential Chinese think tank says.

The South China Sea Strategic Situation Probing Initiative (SCSPI) on Friday released its report on navigation and overflight situations in the vast, resource-rich waterway.

The region sees more than 10 encounters daily and thousands annually, according to the report.

Frictions primarily develop when foreign forces approach the Chinese mainland or its territorial waters and airspace, or “enter within 12 nautical miles (22km) of Chinese-controlled features in the Spratly Islands and Scarborough Shoal”, the report said.

The PLA also “issues warnings and conducts expulsions when US forces enter the territorial waters and airspace of the Paracel Islands for so-called ‘freedom of navigation operations’”.

The final condition for friction is when foreign forces “excessively approach or intrude into PLA military exercises, including live-fire drills”.