The Chinese military conducted a joint sea and air patrol around Scarborough Shoal on Wednesday, amid continuing tensions in the South China Sea.
The Southern Theatre Command of the People’s Liberation Army said it had organised a joint patrol in the waters and airspace near the shoal on Wednesday, “aiming 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 its social media, Sina Weibo.
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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 Philippine island of Luzon.
Tensions have escalated in recent years between Beijing and Manila on the disputed waters in the South China Sea, mainly centred on Scarborough Shoal, Second Thomas Shoal and Sabina Shoal.
The patrol came as Manila held its first joint military drill with the US, Canada and Australia on the same day, after a first joint exercise between the Philippines and Japan last week.
The PLA conducted a patrol in the South China Sea in April when the Philippines, Japan, Australia and the US held joint military drills.
More to follow ...
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