China conducts naval, air patrols around disputed shoal

China’s Southern Theater Command said China conducted naval and air patrols around Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea.

The herd is in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, but China also claims it as part of its territory.

The Philippine embassy in Beijing did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

China increased its combat readiness patrols in the region in January, “resolutely countering the transgressive provocations of individual countries in the region,” the post said.

The Philippine and US militaries conducted joint exercises in the Scarborough Shoal area earlier this week, the 11th exercise since November 2023, the Manila armed forces said on Tuesday.