The Southern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) has conducted combat readiness patrols involving naval and air forces in the disputed waters of the South China Sea. These maneuvers come as Beijing intensifies its military presence in the region to assert its territorial claims and monitor maritime activities.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, official reports indicate that these military activities have ramped up since the beginning of January. The command stated that the patrols are a firm response to "provocations" by certain countries and are intended to demonstrate a resolute stance in defending national interests.
Tensions are particularly high around the Scarborough Shoal, referred to as "Huangyan" by China and "Panatag" by the Philippines, located near the Philippine coast.The statement emphasized that the increased patrolling aims to strengthen China's sovereignty and security in waters it considers its own territory, while also maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea.
The South China Sea has been a focal point of complex territorial disputes since the end of World War II. While China claims approximately 80% of the sea based on a 1947 map, several other nations, including the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, and Malaysia, maintain competing claims over the resource-rich region. These waters are of critical global importance, serving as a major maritime trade route and containing significant untapped oil and natural gas reserves, making the region a persistent geopolitical flashpoint.
