China conducts naval and air drills around a disputed island in the South China Sea with the Philippines
Beijing, Jan 8 (KUNA) -- The Chinese military announced on Saturday that it conducted naval and air drills in the airspace and territorial waters of the disputed Huangyan Island in the South China Sea, a move it said aimed at defending national sovereignty and safeguarding peace and stability in the region.
In a statement carried by the Xinhua News Agency, the Southern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army described the drills as a “necessary measure” to respond to actions by some regional countries aimed at undermining regional peace and stability amid developments in the South China Sea. The command added that the drills “aim to enhance the operational capabilities of the theater forces in safeguarding China’s sovereignty, maritime rights, and interests,” noting that the exercises focused on carrying out combat missions including reconnaissance, early warning, deterrence patrols, control of maritime and air domains, and joint attacks, thereby testing the forces’ capabilities in maritime-air coordination and rapid support.
The command reaffirmed that Huangyan Island, known to the Philippines as Scarborough Shoal, “has been Chinese territory since ancient times,” and deemed the Philippines’ designation of the island’s geographic coordinates “illegal and null.”
In a parallel move, the Chinese Coast Guard announced on Saturday the deployment of patrols to protect rights, enforce laws, and maintain control in waters adjacent to Huangyan Island, including inspection, detention, and interception operations to prevent unauthorized incursions.
At the same time, China’s Ministry of Natural Resources issued a regulatory decree to manage the Huangyan Island National Nature Reserve, which Beijing established in September last year. The measure aims to create a new mechanism for implementing daily patrols capable of addressing all legal violations. According to the decree, fishing, mining, coral and reef extraction, giant clam harvesting, and other activities that harm rare marine species and the natural ecosystem on the island will be prohibited without authorization from the Chinese government. (End) S L Q / R J
