
MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Chinese air and naval forces staged “combat readiness patrols” around Scarborough Shoal last Sunday, marking Beijing’s final major show of strength against Manila over the disputed South China Sea maritime feature in 2024.
According to the Chinese Ministry of National Defense, the snap People’s Liberation Army Southern Theater Command drills were conducted to “resolutely safeguard China’s national sovereignty and security, and maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea.” Media released by the Chinese military show various patrol aircraft, fighter jets and H-6 bombers flying over Scarborough. They were also joined by a naval task force consisting of a replenishment vessel, a 052D-class destroyer and a 055-class destroyer.
“Since December, 2024, the PLA Southern Theater Command has organized its naval and air force troops to continuously strengthen maritime and airspace patrols around China’s territorial waters of Huangyan Dao, and further strengthen the control over relevant waters and airspace,” stated a Ministry of Defense release.
PLA Southern Theater Command released footage of China’s combat readiness patrols near the Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea on Dec. 29. pic.twitter.com/CLb6Q2blsU
— Duan Dang (@duandang) December 30, 2024
While the Philippines claims Scarborough, known locally as Bajo de Masinloc and located 118 miles from the Philippine island of Luzon, to be within the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone, China has claimed the feature and calls it Huangyan Dao. Incidents over Scarborough have increased since 2012’s standoff, which saw China take de facto control of the maritime feature. 2023 and 2024 saw some of the most intensive encounters between the two countries over the shoal, some of which included using water cannons and ramming maneuvers by Chinese forces.
Manila previously deployed a civilian mission on Dec. 19 that saw a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Cessna aircraft fly a group of journalists over the disputed waters. The Philippine Daily Inquirer reported that the 054A-class frigate Xianning (500) sent 40 radio challenges to warn the propeller plane that it was over Chinese “territorial airspace.” The flight also observed several other Chinese warships and white-hulled patrol cutters, according to the report.
The deployment of Chinese fighter jets to harass a Philippine Air Force patrol near Scarborough last August prompted Philippine defense officials to highlight Beijing’s use of the militarized Subi, Mischief and Fiery Cross Reefs to rapidly deploy combat aircraft within the country’s exclusive economic zone. The China Maritime Militia, Coast Guard and People’s Liberation Army Navy have also utilized the artificial island bases for operations near the Philippines.