REDSTATE | Published January 3, 2025
China seems determined to establish a new Cold War in the Pacific. In their latest provocation, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Southern Theater Command is pushing both sea and air patrols near the contested territory in the South China Sea known as the Scarborough Shoal.
The Philippines claim the Shoal as being within their Exclusive Economic Zone, but China has made a territorial claim to the Shoal, which they call “Huangyan Dao.”
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.
This isn’t the first time China and the Philippines have butted heads over this territory, which China now claims as their territory.
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.
China is making no effort to keep its activities quiet; on December 29, they released a video of air and sea operations, and in several shots, you can see the distinctive outline of the Scarborough Shoal below.
This is some serious Cold War-level stuff.
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SOURCE: www.redstate.com
RELATED: Chinese Warships, Aircraft Deploy in Strength to Scarborough Shoal
A People’s Liberation Army fighter over Scarborough Shoal from a Dec. 29, 2024 drills. Chinese Ministry of Defense image
USNI NEWS | Published January 1, 2025
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.
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.
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SOURCE: www.usni.org
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