China conducts naval, air patrols around disputed shoal in South China Sea
China has conducted joint air and naval combat drills around the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea. Beijing claims these actions are a necessary response to regional instability and has announced new administrative policies for the area.
Why it matters
The drills escalate tensions in the South China Sea, a critical maritime region with overlapping territorial claims involving China and the Philippines.
The Chinese flag is seen in this illustration taken May 30, 2022. (Illustration: REUTERS/Dado Ruvic)
BEIJING: China's military and China Coast Guard conducted joint air and naval combat drills around the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, according to Chinese state media reports.
The drills were held in the airspace and waters around the shoal, which China calls Huangyan Dao.
The Chinese military described the drills as a necessary response to actions by "certain countries" it said were undermining regional peace and stability. The Scarborough Shoal is also claimed by the Philippines, where it is known as Bajo de Masinloc.
The Chinese military said "so-called territorial sea baselines of Huangyan Dao designated by the Philippine side are illegal and invalid".
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