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Wendy Wu

Enoch Wong

The Chinese military conducted a joint sea and air patrol around Scarborough Shoal on Wednesday as tensions continued to simmer with the Philippines in the South China Sea.
The Southern Theatre Command of the People’s Liberation Army said the patrol activities were “carried out in accordance with the law”.
Scarborough Shoal, known as Huangyan Island in China and Panatag Shoal in the Philippines, is claimed by both Beijing and Manila and has been effectively controlled by China since an intense stand-off in 2012. It is about 220km (120 nautical miles) west of Luzon, the main Philippine island.
It is the second PLA air-to-sea joint patrol around the shoal in four months.


The escalation in tension between China and the Philippines has centred on Scarborough, Second Thomas and Sabina shoals, where there has been a series of confrontations since last year.
On Friday, the Philippines enacted two new laws regarding the disputed waters. One of them, the Maritime Zones Act, recognises much of the Spratlys as Philippine territory and claims waters extending 12 nautical miles (22km) from the baselines of the islands as Manila’s territorial sea.
Beijing has condemned Manila, accusing it of “unlawfully” including Scarborough Shoal and most of the islands and reefs of the Spratlys within the Philippine maritime zone.
In response, Beijing on Sunday published a set of geographic coordinates for 16 base points around Scarborough Shoal, labelling it “China’s Huangyan Island”. It said it was a natural move by the Chinese government to “lawfully strengthen marine management” and was consistent with international law and common practices.




Wednesday’s patrol also came after Manila started a two-week drill this month, including simulated seizure of an island in the disputed waters, as preparation to counter “external threats”.
During the PLA patrol on August 7, the PLA said “all military activities that disrupt the situation in the South China Sea, create hotspots and undermine regional peace and stability, are well under control”.
The August drill was conducted on the same day the Philippines, the United States, Canada and Australia conducted their first drill, and just days after Manila’s first joint exercise with Japanese forces.
Observers expected tensions to continue at least over the short term and did not rule out the risk of greater uncertainty given the re-election of Donald Trump as US president.


Song Zhongping, a former PLA instructor, said Beijing viewed regular South China Sea patrols as crucial for “safeguarding national sovereignty and stability”.
With the US leadership transition, the Philippines might seek American support to pressure China, he said, adding that while Trump’s stance on the South China Sea was unclear, Manila could test Washington’s resolve.
China, however, considered such provocations minimal threats, even with US backing, Song said. At the Zhuhai air show, China showed new weaponry that was “either in active service or about to be deployed”.
Zheng Yongnian, a professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong’s Shenzhen campus, said Beijing handled confrontation with the Philippines “with restraint”. But differences in mindset between Beijing and Manila persisted and could not be eased in the short term, according to Zheng.
He said that while Beijing wanted to address South China Sea disputes through bilateral dialogues with Manila, the latter regarded itself as “an agent of the US and the Asean”.
“Overall, relations between China and the Philippines hinge on how the Sino-US ties develop,” he said.


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Chinese military conducts sea and air patrol around shoal amid tension with Philippines

The Southern Theatre Command of the People’s Liberation Army says Scarborough Shoal patrol was  “carried out in accordance with the law”. Photo: Xinhua

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A China coastguard vessel patrols near the disputed Scarborough Shoal. Photo: Reuters

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It is the second air-to-sea joint patrol as tensions have escalated around Scarborough, Second Thomas and Sabina shoals


It is the second air-to-sea joint patrol as tensions have escalated around Scarborough, Second Thomas and Sabina shoals.


Chinese military conducts sea and air patrol around shoal amid tension with Philippines

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}It is the second air-to-sea joint patrol as tensions have escalated around Scarborough, Second Thomas and Sabina shoals

It is the second air-to-sea joint patrol as tensions have escalated around Scarborough, Second Thomas and Sabina shoals