China's PLA Southern Theater Command announced joint air and naval combat drills around Scarborough Shoal (Huangyan Dao), a contested feature in the South China Sea. The military said the exercises were a response to actions by "certain countries" it accused of undermining regional peace, without naming them. The Philippines also claims the shoal (Bajo de Masinloc); its embassy in Beijing did not immediately comment. The drills aimed to test and improve forces' combat readiness to defend territorial sovereignty and maritime rights.
China Holds Joint Air and Naval Drills Near Disputed Scarborough Shoal, Says PLA
The Chinese flag is seen in this illustration taken May 30, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration
BEIJING, Aug 1 (Reuters) — China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Southern Theater Command said on Saturday it carried out joint air and naval combat drills in the airspace and territorial waters around the disputed Scarborough Shoal, referred to by Beijing as Huangyan Dao and by the Philippines as Bajo de Masinloc.
Overview
The command said the exercises involved coordinated air and maritime units operating around the shoal. The statement described the drills as a necessary response to actions by "certain countries" that it said were undermining regional peace and stability; it did not identify those countries.
Purpose And Responses
The PLA said the operation was intended to test and improve the combat readiness of its forces to defend national territorial sovereignty and maritime rights. The Philippine Embassy in Beijing did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment.
PLA Statement: "The exercises aimed to enhance the troops' combat preparedness to safeguard national territorial sovereignty and maritime rights."
Context: Scarborough Shoal is a long-standing flashpoint in the South China Sea, claimed by both China and the Philippines. The area has strategic and economic significance, drawing regular attention from regional militaries and diplomatic channels.
Reporting by Che Pan and Ryan Woo; Editing by Tom Hogue.
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