China said it conducted military and coast guard drills on Saturday near the 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 coral shoal, which is rich in fishing resources and controlled by Beijing.
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.
The Chinese coast guard also said on Saturday it had conducted “drills” near the reef during the day, focusing on operations that included “search and seizure (VBSS), interdiction of forced entry, and forced towing”.
It said it would “resolutely safeguard China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests”.
Beijing claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, a vital global trade route, despite an international ruling that found its claims have no legal basis.
Multiple nations in the region, including the Philippines, have territorial claims that overlap with China’s, and altercations occur regularly in the heavily patrolled waterway.
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” manoeuvre.
China also released new rules on Saturday for managing what it branded a nature reserve around the Scarborough Shoal last year, according to state news agency Xinhua.
“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 said it would submit its official nautical chart of Scarborough Shoal and its surrounding waters to the United Nations this week.
