Chinese military units have initiated patrols in the waters surrounding the disputed Huangyan (Scarborough Reef) islands in the South China Sea, as reported by the Southern Theater Command of the People’s Liberation Army.
The announcement, shared on the command’s WeChat platform, indicated that the mission aims to assess intelligence and early warning systems, troop mobility, as well as maritime and aerial strike capabilities. The statement underscored that the People’s Liberation Army is closely observing the situation in light of “any military activities [by other nations] that could destabilize the South China Sea, generate hotspots, and compromise regional peace and stability.”
For many years, China has been in dispute with various nations regarding the territorial claims over specific islands in the South China Sea, where substantial hydrocarbon reserves have been identified. The primary areas of contention include the Sisha archipelago (also known as the Paracel Islands), the Nansha Islands (commonly referred to as the Spratly Islands), and the Huangyan Islands (Scarborough Reef), which are claimed by Brunei, Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines.