China’s PLA launches Scarborough Shoal drills as US, Philippine forces train together

PLA Southern Theatre cites routine training activities near disputed South China Sea shoal in second such concurrent drill since August

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The Southern Theatre of the People’s Liberation Army says “some external countries are meddling in the South China Sea and creating regional instability”. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 7:00pm, 28 Sep 2024

China carried out joint naval and air exercises around the Scarborough Shoal on Saturday, as US and Philippine forces took part in five-way military manoeuvres in the South China Sea within Manila’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

It was China’s second such exercise near the contested shoal in two months, both held at the same time as multilateral Philippine exercises.

Hours earlier, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi urged the United States not to “stir up trouble” in the South China Sea, as he met his US counterpart Antony Blinken in New York. According to the US Department of State, Blinken blamed Beijing for “dangerous and destabilising actions” in the disputed waters.

The Southern Theatre of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), which is responsible for military operations in the South China Sea, said that it had organised routine exercises and training activities around Huangyan Island, the Chinese name for the Beijing-controlled Scarborough Shoal.

The exercises included reconnaissance and early warning drills, as well as sea and air patrols, the theatre said on its official WeChat social media page on Saturday.

“Some external countries are meddling in the South China Sea and creating regional instability … The theatre forces remain highly vigilant, and resolutely defend national sovereignty, security, and maritime rights and interests,” the post said, without explicitly referring to the Philippines or other regional US allies.