The aerial view of China's Huangyan Dao Photo: Courtesy of South China Institute of Environmental Sciences under China Ministry of Ecology and Environment

The People's Liberation Army (PLA) Southern Theater Command organized naval and air forces to conduct combat readiness patrols in the territorial waters and airspace around China's Huangyan Dao and its surrounding areas on Sunday, according to the PLA Southern Theater Command's official WeChat account.  

Since December, the theater command has continuously strengthened patrol and alert operations in the maritime and aerial areas near the territorial waters of Huangyan Dao, further enhancing control over these areas to resolutely defend national sovereignty and security and firmly maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea.

According to a video released by the PLA Southern Theater Command, Y-8 series special operations aircraft, a Su-30 fighter jet and an H-6K bomber were among the aviation forces that participated in the patrols, while a warship flotilla led by the Type 055 large destroyer Xianyang (Hull 108) were among the maritime forces.

Combat readiness patrols differ from routine training exercises, Zhuo Hua, an international affairs expert at the School of International Relations and Diplomacy at Beijing Foreign Studies University, told the Global Times in a previous interview. 

"Combat readiness patrols ensure personnel and equipment remain in full combat readiness, ready to respond to any accidental escalation or external attacks. This is the message China hopes provocation-seeking countries will understand and take seriously," Zhuo said.

Since China released baselines for the territorial sea adjacent to Huangyan Dao, both the PLA and the China Coast Guard (CCG) have organized various types of combat readiness patrols and related law enforcement activities in different forms, Ding Duo, Director of Research Center for International and regional studies, National Institute for South China Sea Studies, told the Global Times on Sunday. This is a message to provocation-seeking countries, Ding emphasized. 

Whether the Philippines attempts to use mixed formations of civilian ships, fishing boats, government vessels or military ships to infringe on the territorial sovereignty of Huangyan Dao, or whether it is other countries like the US that intend to flex its muscles, China possesses sufficient means, capabilities and response plans to safeguard its sovereignty, security and developmental interests in the South China Sea, Ding said.  

Previously on December 27, the CCG conducted law enforcement patrols in the territorial waters and surrounding areas of Huangyan Dao.

Since December, the CCG has continuously strengthened law enforcement patrols in the territorial waters and surrounding areas of Huangyan Dao, monitoring and driving away illegal intruding vessels, further enhancing control over the relevant maritime areas, and resolutely safeguarding national territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.

Over the past year, although there have been some frictions between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea, and an increasing military presence of the US and Western countries, the overall situation in the South China Sea remains stable, and generally controllable, Ding said, attributing the situation to China's continuous improvement of capability in managing South China Sea affairs, Ding said. 

"China's management of the situation is a key factor in maintaining overall peace and stability in the South China Sea."

The actions taken by the PLA and the CCG in the South China Sea will reassure the entire nation: our citizens can trust the Party and the country to safeguard our sovereignty and rights, the expert told the Global Times. This message serves to boost morale and strengthen national cohesion among the people, he added.