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China Military Conducts Combat Readiness Drills Around Huangyan Dao Amid Ongoing South China Sea Tensions

By The South Asia Times

BEIJING - The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Southern Theater Command on Saturday deployed naval and air forces to conduct a combat readiness patrol in the territorial waters and airspace around Huangyan Dao and surrounding areas in the South China Sea, according to a statement released by the PLA.

Huangyan Dao, also known internationally as Scarborough Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc, is a disputed territory in the South China Sea claimed by both China and the Philippines. The area has long been a flashpoint in regional maritime disputes.

Since January, the PLA Southern Theater Command has reportedly intensified naval and air patrols in the region, citing the need to “resolutely counter provocations and infringements by individual countries,” and to safeguard China’s national sovereignty and security while maintaining stability in the South China Sea, according to state-run Global Times.

A video released by the PLA shows an H-6K bomber armed with YJ-12 anti-ship missiles alongside the Type 055 large destroyer Xianyang and other PLA warships and aircraft conducting maneuvers.

Analysts say the patrol highlights Beijing’s ongoing strategy to assert its claims in the South China Sea amid continued tensions with Manila and increased presence of other foreign navies in the region.

The Scarborough Shoal dispute has been a persistent source of friction, with the Philippines asserting sovereignty based on proximity and international rulings, while China maintains it as “inherent territory.” The latest PLA patrol underscores Beijing’s determination to reinforce its claims and project military readiness in contested waters.