China Holds Drills Near Scarborough Shoal Amid Maritime Tensions

MANILA, Philippines — China announced on Saturday, August 1, that it conducted joint naval and air drills near Panatag Shoal, also known as Scarborough Shoal, in the South China Sea, amid escalating tensions with the Philippines. A spokesperson for the Chinese military's Southern Theater Command stated, "This is a necessary action taken in light of the current situation in the South China Sea and in response to the acts of certain countries within the region that have undermined regional peace and stability." Chinese state broadcaster CCTV aired footage of two warships patrolling the waters and a plane taking off from an airport, accompanied by patriotic pop music. China's Coast Guard also announced it conducted drills near the shoal on the same day. According to the China Coast Guard, the exercises focused on operations including "search and seizure (VBSS), interdiction of forced entry, and forced towing," and declared it would "resolutely safeguard China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests." China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, a vital global trade route, despite a 2016 arbitral ruling that found its sweeping claims had no legal basis. The Philippines and other regional countries assert overlapping claims in the heavily patrolled waterway. Last week, China deployed a water cannon against a Philippine vessel for two consecutive days, accusing Manila of "infringing and provocative actions." The Philippines maintained that the mission was for resupplying fishermen and condemned the Chinese vessel's "reckless" maneuver. Furthermore, China released new rules on Saturday for managing what it calls a nature reserve around Scarborough Shoal, according to state news agency Xinhua. The rules state that "Without authorization, fishing, mining, the collection of corals, coral reefs, giant clams, and other activities that damage rare marine species and the natural ecosystem are prohibited." These rules were published a day after the Philippines announced it would submit its official nautical chart of Scarborough Shoal and its surrounding waters to the United Nations this week. — with Agence France-Presse