China’s military conducted a joint naval and air training exercise near the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, which China calls Huangyan Dao and the Philippines calls Bajo de Masinloc.
The People’s Liberation Army Southern Theater Command described the exercise as a necessary response to actions by “certain countries” that threaten regional peace and stability. The training aimed to test and improve combat abilities to protect China’s territorial rights and interests.
Additionally, the China Coast Guard announced it held drills focusing on operations like boarding, inspection, intrusion interdiction, and forced towing. The Philippine embassy in Beijing did not immediately respond to requests for comments on the exercise.
With information from Reuters
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