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Phoebe Zhang

The Chinese military has carried out two-day joint combat readiness patrols in the contested South China Sea amid ongoing tensions with the Philippines over the strategically important waters.
The People’s Liberation Army Southern Theatre Command said its naval and air forces patrolled the waters on Friday and Saturday.
“The patrols were meant to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea region, and any military activities that disrupt the South China Sea are fully under control,” the statement said, without providing further details.
It was the first patrol of the year and coincided with a joint air and sea exercise involving the Philippine and United States militaries.
The exercises took place days before Donald Trump’s return to the White House on Monday.
China’s military and coastguard have stepped up their activities in the disputed waters in recent years and Trump’s second term could see tensions with the Philippines increasing further.
Beijing and Manila agreed to continue talks on settling their territorial differences following a meeting between Chen Xiaodong, the vice-minister for foreign affairs, and his Philippine counterpart Maria Theresa Lazaro on Thursday.
But China also criticised Manila’s “provocative” activities and accused it of trying to “hype up” disputes.
The Philippines is currently upgrading the infrastructure, including an airstrip, on Thitu Island, its only inhabited outpost in the disputed Spratly Islands.
Meanwhile, Manila has protested about “escalatory and provocative” coastguard activity, including the presence of China’s largest coastguard ship in the waters around Scarborough Shoal.


It said the 12,000-tonne “monster ship”, other coast guard vessels and a naval helicopter had entered its exclusive economic zone, and demanded that China withdraw its ships.
Last year saw regular PLA and coastguard patrols in the South China Sea, including in response to other countries’ activities.
These included patrols in February after Manila increased troop numbers in its northernmost province of Batanes, which is less than 200km (120 miles) from Taiwan, and one in April, on the same day as a joint exercise between the Philippines, United States, Japan and Australia.
In November, the PLA carried out patrols in the waters and airspace around Scarborough Shoal – known in China as Huangyan Island and Panatag Shoal in the Philippines – after both sides moved to strengthen their claims to sovereignty over the feature.
Wu Shicun, the president of China’s National Institute for South China Sea Studies, has argued that China will face further challenges in the disputed waters this year, adding that with tensions with the Philippines likely to intensify further, the risk of unforeseen incidents or conflict is likely to increase.
Wu also warned of growing uncertainty in the region and said that while the US would continue to use the South China Sea issue as a way of containing China and creating discord, the methods used would change under Trump.
He also said Vietnam, another rival claimant, would continue its land reclamation works and step up its deployment of weapons and infrastructure building on the features it controls.
“But there are still opportunities to adjust the direction towards dialogue and cooperation,” Wu wrote in an analysis.
“China and other disputing countries could manage their differences through bilateral consultations, promote the South China Sea Code of Conduct [the subject of ongoing negotiations with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations] and explore maritime cooperation and joint development.”


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China carried out regular patrols in the region throughout last year. Photo: Xinhua

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A Chinese Coastguard ship sails in the South China Sea. Photo: Philippine Coast Guard/AFP

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News

China

Military

The air and sea activity comes days before Donald Trump’s return to power brings increased uncertainty to the region


The air and sea activity comes days before Donald Trump’s return to power brings increased uncertainty to the region.


South China Sea

China-Philippines relations