China holds military drills near disputed Scarborough Shoal

China’s military carried out joint naval and air exercises around the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea on Saturday, saying the operations were intended to strengthen combat readiness and protect what it considers its territorial and maritime rights.

The People’s Liberation Army Southern Theater Command said the drills took place in the waters and airspace surrounding the shoal, which China refers to as Huangyan Dao. The area is also claimed by the Philippines, where it is known as Bajo de Masinloc, and has long been one of the region’s most contested maritime zones.

In a statement, the Chinese military said the exercises were a necessary response to actions by what it described as “certain countries” that it claimed were disrupting peace and stability in the South China Sea. The statement did not identify any country by name, but the Scarborough Shoal has remained at the centre of ongoing tensions between China and the Philippines.

The Philippine embassy in Beijing did not immediately comment on the military exercises or respond to requests for a statement.

According to the Chinese military, the operation was designed to test the coordination and readiness of naval and air forces while improving their ability to respond to security challenges in the region. Officials said the exercises would help strengthen China’s capability to defend its territorial claims and safeguard its maritime interests.

On the same day, Chinese authorities also announced new rules governing the Huangyan Island National Nature Reserve, which was established in September 2025. State news agency Xinhua reported that the updated policy bans unauthorised fishing, mining, coral collection, giant clam harvesting and other activities considered harmful to the protected marine environment.

Chinese officials said anyone found violating the new regulations would face legal action under the country’s laws. The measures are intended to strengthen environmental protection while reinforcing China’s administrative control over the disputed area.

The Scarborough Shoal has been a source of repeated diplomatic and maritime disputes for years. Both China and the Philippines claim sovereignty over the area, and encounters between their coast guards and fishing vessels have frequently heightened tensions in the South China Sea.

The latest military exercises are expected to draw close attention from neighbouring countries and regional observers, as competing territorial claims continue to shape security concerns in one of the world’s busiest and most strategically important waterways.