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. […]
PLA Southern Theater Command released footage of China's combat readiness patrols near the Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea on Dec. 29. pic.twitter.com/CLb6Q2blsU
— Duan Dang (@duandang) December 30, 2024
— Read More: redstate.com
