China launches combat patrols near Scarborough Shoal amid US-Philippines drills

China's Southern Theater Command said Thursday it carried out combat readiness patrols near Scarborough Shoal, calling them a countermeasure against "provocative acts."wsau+1
The patrols coincide with Exercise Balikatan, which has brought over 17,000 troops from the U.S., Philippines, and allied nations to the region through May 8.imef.marines
Tensions have escalated after satellite imagery showed Chinese vessels and a floating barrier blocking access to the shoal earlier in April, according to Reuters.usnews+1

China's military announced on Thursday that its naval and air forces carried out combat readiness patrols near the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, a move that coincided with ongoing multinational military exercises led by the Philippines and the United States.wsau+2

Beijing Frames Patrols as Defense of Sovereignty

The People's Liberation Army's Southern Theater Command said in a statement that forces had "enhanced readiness patrols in the territorial sea and airspace of Huangyan Dao and its surrounding areas" throughout April. Huangyan Dao is the Chinese name for Scarborough Shoal. "Such patrols serve as an effective countermeasure to cope with all sorts of rights-violation and provocative acts," the command said, adding they were "meant to resolutely safeguard China's territorial sovereignty and uphold peace and stability in the South China Sea".internazionale+1

Separately, the China Coast Guard said it also carried out "law-enforcement patrols" near the shoal on Thursday, stating it had "regulated ships engaging in illegal rights-violation activities".eng.chinamil+1

Tensions Mount Amid Balikatan 2026

The patrols come as the Philippines and the United States conduct Exercise Balikatan, the 41st iteration of the annual drills, running from April 20 to May 8. More than 17,000 personnel from the Philippines, the United States, Australia, Japan, Canada, France, and New Zealand are participating, with an additional 17 nations observing, making it the most expansive version of the exercise to date. The drills coincide with the 75th anniversary of the U.S.-Philippine Mutual Defense Treaty.imef.marines+2

China has escalated its activities around Scarborough Shoal in recent weeks. In mid-April, satellite imagery obtained by Reuters Thomson Reuters Corporation showed Chinese vessels and a 352-meter floating barrier installed at the shoal's entrance, restricting Filipino access to the traditionally rich fishing ground. Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela confirmed the deployment and said six Chinese maritime militia vessels were positioned inside the shoal with three more outside.usnews+1

A Long-Running Dispute

Scarborough Shoal lies within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone, but China has maintained control since a 2012 standoff. The Philippines has accused Beijing of using force to block its fishermen and coast guard vessels from the area. A 2016 international tribunal ruling rejected China's expansive claims in the South China Sea, but Beijing has refused to recognize the decision.marineinsight+1

Analysts have noted that China may be exploiting perceptions that the United States is preoccupied with the conflict in the Middle East to expand its footprint in the region. According to a report by the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, satellite imagery also shows China constructing a large airbase on Antelope Reef in the Paracel Islands, covering roughly 1,500 acres of reclaimed land.fdd+1

Sources (28)