China conducts patrols around Scarborough Shoal in disputed South China Sea

China's military and coast guard announced Tuesday they conducted patrols in the waters and airspace around Scarborough Shoal, asserting their territorial claims in the South China Sea. The Southern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army stated that naval and air forces carried out combat-readiness patrols.

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carried out patrols in the territorial waters and airspace around the shoal.

Separately, the China Coast Guard reported conducting law-enforcement patrols in the same area. The CCG indicated it has intensified patrols this month, regulating ships involved in "illegal rights-violation activities" without further detail. Scarborough Shoal, known as "Huangyan Dao" in China, is a flashpoint claimed by both Beijing and Manila.

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conducted law-enforcement patrols on Tuesday in the waters and surrounding areas of the shoal too, saying it has enhanced patrols this month and regulated ships engaged in "illegal rights-violation activities"

These patrols occurred shortly after joint U.S.-Philippine drills in waters near the shoal over the weekend. Washington described these drills as underscoring a shared commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. China's military responded Monday, calling the drills destabilizing and accusing the Philippines of involving external forces.

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underscored a shared commitment to strengthening regional and international cooperation in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Beijing has recently increased its assertions of sovereignty at Scarborough, including establishing a national nature reserve, which the Philippines criticized as a "clear pretext for occupation." Earlier in June, the Philippines reported China had installed and later removed a floating platform at the shoal's entrance, a move Beijing defended as legitimate activity within its sovereign rights.

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undermine regional peace and stability.