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PLA conducts combat-readiness patrols in S.China Sea, 'operations normalized': expert

Global Times

By Zhang Han and Liu Xuanzun Published: Jul 03, 2025 07:51 PM

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Southern Theater Command on Thursday organized naval and air forces to carry out combat-readiness patrols in the territorial waters, airspace and surrounding areas of China's Huangyan Dao, the command announced.

Since June, the theater troops have organized naval and air forces to continuously strengthen patrols and vigilance in the waters and airspace around the waters and airspace of China's Huangyan Dao, enhance control over key maritime and aerial areas, resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and security, and firmly maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea region.

A video released by the PLA Southern Theater Command shows that the patrols involved the Type 054A frigate and Type 056A corvette at sea, and the J-16 fighter jet and H-6K bomber in the air. An H-6K bomber was equipped with YJ-12 supersonic anti-ship missiles.

China's rights protection and situation control operations in the South China Sea have now become normalized, said Ding Duo, director of the Research Center for International and Regional Studies at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies.

The China Coast Guard (CCG) on Monday conducted law enforcement patrols in the territorial waters off China's Huangyan Dao and nearby areas.

In a statement, the CCG said it has been steadily intensifying law enforcement patrols in the territorial waters off Huangyan Dao and surrounding areas in June, carrying out tracking and monitoring, verbal warnings, interceptions, and expulsions in accordance with laws and regulations.

The actions aim to strengthen the management and control of relevant maritime areas, and firmly safeguard China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, according to the CCG.

Ding added that since China delimited and announced the baselines of the territorial sea adjacent to Huangyan Dao, operations have become more targeted and refined.

China's patrols and law enforcement constitute a countermeasure to the Philippines and some non-regional countries' military posturing by the Philippines and certain non-regional countries through joint exercises, which Ding said pose threats to China's security and regional peace.

China has the will, determination, and capability to safeguard its own sovereignty, security, development interests, and regional peace and stability regardless of maritime or rhetorical provocations by certain countries, Ding said.

On Tuesday, China announced sanctions on former Philippine senator Francis Tolentino for his "egregious" behavior on China-related issues, barring him from entering Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, and Macao, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said.