BEIJING — China said it conducted military and coast guard drills on Saturday near Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, a contested reef in the South China Sea, in a show of force after recent clashes with the Philippines in the disputed waters.
The Philippines and China contest each other’s sovereignty over the resource-rich coral shoal, which Beijing occupied in 2012 following a standoff with the Philippine Navy.
Before that episode, Scarborough Shoal—located some 220 kilometers from the Philippines and some 870 km from China—had been occupied by Philippine troops and had been a feature of historical maps of the Philippine archipelago.
READ: PH deposits Panatag Shoal chart with UN, despite China control
Patriotic pop
China conducted “a joint naval-air training exercise” near the reef on Saturday, a spokesperson from the army’s Southern Theater Command said.
“This is a necessary action taken in light of the current situation in the South China Sea and in response to the acts of certain countries within the region that have undermined regional peace and stability,” the spokesperson said.
Chinese state broadcaster CCTV aired footage of two warships patrolling the seas and a plane taking off from an airport to the soundtrack of patriotic pop music.
READ: China Coast Guard fires water cannon at PH vessel during Panatag mission
The Chinese coast guard also said on Saturday it had conducted “drills” near the reef, focusing on operations that included “search and seizure, interdiction of forced entry, and forced towing.”
It said it would “resolutely safeguard China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.”
China said it took “necessary measures” last week after it deployed a water cannon at a Philippine vessel, accusing Manila of “infringing and provocative actions” and condemned the presence of a television crew on board the boat.
Manila countered by saying it had been seeking to resupply fishermen and accused a Chinese vessel of a “reckless” maneuver.
Nautical chart
China also released new rules on Saturday for managing what it branded a nature reserve around Scarborough Shoal last year, according to the Xinhua state news agency.
“Without authorization, fishing, mining, the collection of corals, coral reefs, giant clams, and other activities that damage rare marine species and the natural ecosystem are prohibited,” it said.
The rules were published a day after the Philippines on Wednesday submitted its official nautical chart of Scarborough Shoal and its surrounding waters to the United Nations this week. /cb
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