China conducts military patrols near Scarborough Shoal

The Chinese People's Liberation Army Southern Theater Command has conducted combat readiness patrols in the territorial waters and airspace surrounding Scarborough Shoal. These maritime and aerial operations, which have been intensified since August, are intended to strengthen control over the area and respond to what China describes as infringing provocations.

China maintains that Scarborough Shoal is its inherent territory based on historical and legal grounds. Officials noted that the Chinese government established sea baseline for the shoal in November 2024 and submitted relevant maps to the United Nations in December.

A spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense stated that the military exercises are a necessary and legitimate response to actions by the Philippines, which China claims violate international law and its territorial sovereignty. The Ministry urged the Philippines to cease maritime provocations and illegal activities in the South China Sea.