South China Sea: Chinese military says reef patrols stepped up amid tension with Manila

On the same day, naval and air forces conducted a “combat-ready vigilance patrol” over the surrounding waters and airspace of Scarborough Shoal in addition to patrols earlier this month, according to a statement by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Southern Theatre Command (STC), which oversees the South China Sea.

“Since November, the theatre has organised naval and air forces to continuously strengthen the patrol and vigilance of the sea and air space around the territorial waters of the Huangyan Island, further strengthening our control of the relevant sea and air space,” the statement said, referring to China’s name for the shoal.

“[The theatre] is steadfast about defending our nation’s sovereignty and security, and safeguarding the peace and stability of the South China Sea.”

The announcement came after Beijing declared territorial baselines around Scarborough Shoal this month, and the US last week said it had deployed a special task force in support of Manila in South China Sea disputes.

Scarborough Shoal, called Panatag Shoal by the Philippines, is a long-running flash point between Beijing and Manila. It is within the Philippines’ 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone and used to be a shooting range for American military stationed at Subic Bay, while China has claimed the shoal as part of its Zhongsha Islands.