To Counter PH-US Joint Military Drills, PLA Conducts Combat Readiness Patrols in Scarborough Shoal
During large-scale multilateral maritime exercises by the Philippines and the United States in the South China Sea, China's Southern Theater Command announced it conducted combat readiness patrols in the sea and air space around Scarborough Shoal (Huangyan Island in Chinese). This action is stated to be a strong and effective response to various infringements and provocations, aiming to safeguard national sovereignty and regional peace.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 30, 2026 at 18:49
- 🔍 Collected: April 30, 2026 at 19:02 (12 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 1, 2026 at 07:55 (12h 53m after Collected)
(Central News Agency, Taipei, 30th) As the Philippines and the United States conduct large-scale "Shoulder-to-Shoulder" joint military exercises in the South China Sea, China's Southern Theater Command announced today that it organized naval and air forces to conduct combat readiness patrols in the sea and air space around Scarborough Shoal (Huangyan Island in Chinese), claiming to "powerfully and effectively respond to various infringements and provocative acts." The Southern Theater Command also released a video claiming that foreign aircraft approached Scarborough Shoal and were monitored by PLA fighter jets.
The Southern Theater Command's WeChat official account issued a Chinese and English press release on the afternoon of the 30th, stating that the Southern Theater Command today organized naval and air forces to conduct combat readiness patrols in "China's Huangyan Island territorial sea and airspace" and surrounding sea and air areas.
The Southern Theater Command stated that since April, its forces have continuously strengthened patrols and vigilance in the sea and air space around "Huangyan Island's" territorial waters, "powerfully and effectively responding to various infringements and provocative acts," resolutely defending national sovereignty and security, and firmly maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea region.
The Southern Theater Command also released a video showing at least three PLA missile frigates, including the Hanzhong (hull number 648), Maoming (hull number 551), and Anshun (hull number 554), patrolling the waters around Scarborough Shoal.
The video shows the Southern Theater Command deploying multiple J-16 fighter jets and at least two H-6K bombers to patrol the airspace over Scarborough Shoal.
In the video, a PLA warship hails a fighter jet code-named "Thunderbolt 01," stating that an "unidentified aerial target" at bearing 090 and altitude 2000 meters is continuously approaching "Huangyan Island"; "Thunderbolt 01" responds, "We are occupying our position over Huangyan Island, ready for combat at any time"; "I've got it locked, it can't escape." The video shows that the approaching aircraft appears to be a Philippine C-208 patrol aircraft.
The Philippines and the United States launched their annual large-scale "Shoulder-to-Shoulder" joint military exercises on April 20, with Japan, Australia, and other allied nations participating. Among them, five countries dispatched a total of 11 warships to conduct large-scale "Multilateral Maritime Exercises" (MME) in the South China Sea.
The Philippine military stated today that the "Multilateral Maritime Exercises" began on April 20 in the "West Philippine Sea" and will continue until May 1, forming an important part of this year's "Shoulder-to-Shoulder" joint military exercises.
The "West Philippine Sea" is the official name used by the Philippines for the waters it claims in the South China Sea, covering its exclusive economic zone extending 200 nautical miles west from its territorial sea baseline.
Prior to this, the Southern Theater Command announced on April 24 that it recently organized the 107 fleet to conduct exercises in the waters east of Luzon Island, Philippines, including live-fire drills, claiming this was "a necessary action taken in response to the current regional situation." (Editors: Yang Sheng-ru / Chen Yen-chun) 1150430
The Southern Theater Command's WeChat official account issued a Chinese and English press release on the afternoon of the 30th, stating that the Southern Theater Command today organized naval and air forces to conduct combat readiness patrols in "China's Huangyan Island territorial sea and airspace" and surrounding sea and air areas.
The Southern Theater Command stated that since April, its forces have continuously strengthened patrols and vigilance in the sea and air space around "Huangyan Island's" territorial waters, "powerfully and effectively responding to various infringements and provocative acts," resolutely defending national sovereignty and security, and firmly maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea region.
The Southern Theater Command also released a video showing at least three PLA missile frigates, including the Hanzhong (hull number 648), Maoming (hull number 551), and Anshun (hull number 554), patrolling the waters around Scarborough Shoal.
The video shows the Southern Theater Command deploying multiple J-16 fighter jets and at least two H-6K bombers to patrol the airspace over Scarborough Shoal.
In the video, a PLA warship hails a fighter jet code-named "Thunderbolt 01," stating that an "unidentified aerial target" at bearing 090 and altitude 2000 meters is continuously approaching "Huangyan Island"; "Thunderbolt 01" responds, "We are occupying our position over Huangyan Island, ready for combat at any time"; "I've got it locked, it can't escape." The video shows that the approaching aircraft appears to be a Philippine C-208 patrol aircraft.
The Philippines and the United States launched their annual large-scale "Shoulder-to-Shoulder" joint military exercises on April 20, with Japan, Australia, and other allied nations participating. Among them, five countries dispatched a total of 11 warships to conduct large-scale "Multilateral Maritime Exercises" (MME) in the South China Sea.
The Philippine military stated today that the "Multilateral Maritime Exercises" began on April 20 in the "West Philippine Sea" and will continue until May 1, forming an important part of this year's "Shoulder-to-Shoulder" joint military exercises.
The "West Philippine Sea" is the official name used by the Philippines for the waters it claims in the South China Sea, covering its exclusive economic zone extending 200 nautical miles west from its territorial sea baseline.
Prior to this, the Southern Theater Command announced on April 24 that it recently organized the 107 fleet to conduct exercises in the waters east of Luzon Island, Philippines, including live-fire drills, claiming this was "a necessary action taken in response to the current regional situation." (Editors: Yang Sheng-ru / Chen Yen-chun) 1150430