China’s military and coast guard have announced patrols near Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, a region of ongoing tension between China and the Philippines. This move comes shortly after the Philippine defense minister highlighted ongoing threats from Beijing, despite recent improvements in U.S.-China relations.

Regional Tensions

The Scarborough Shoal has been a contentious area, with both China and the Philippines claiming sovereignty and fishing rights. The People’s Liberation Army’s Southern Theatre Command stated that its naval and air units conducted combat readiness patrols in the atoll’s territorial sea and airspace. These actions are described as countermeasures against rights violations and provocations.

China’s coast guard also reported conducting law enforcement patrols, addressing what it called illegal rights-violation activities. However, specific details were not provided.

Philippine Response

Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, emphasized the severe threat posed by China, both territorially and politically. He stressed the need for resilience in the face of Chinese aggression.

The South China Sea has been a hotspot for maritime standoffs, sometimes leading to vessel collisions and injuries. China’s expansive claims, marked by the ‘nine-dash line,’ overlap with the exclusive economic zones of several Southeast Asian nations. Despite a 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague against China’s claims, Beijing continues to reject this decision.

Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.