China holds joint naval and air drills near disputed Scarborough Shoal

September 27, 2026 at 06:04 PM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

China's military conducted joint naval and air exercises in the waters and airspace around Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea on September 27. The drills were aimed at testing and improving combat capabilities to protect territorial sovereignty and maritime rights, according to the PLA Southern Theater Command. The Chinese coast guard held separate exercises the same day, practicing vessel boarding, inspection, and forced towing.

Key Facts

The PLA Southern Theater Command said the exercises were a necessary response to actions by 'some countries' that undermine peace and stability in the region.
The Chinese coast guard held separate drills on the same day, practicing vessel boarding, inspection, blocking entry to certain areas, and forced towing.
Scarborough Shoal is an uninhabited atoll about 220 km from the Philippine coast and about 900 km from the nearest Chinese coast.
China has exercised de facto control over the shoal since 2012, and the Philippines continues to claim it as its territory.
In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled that China has no historic rights to resources within the nine-dash line and that Philippine fishermen's rights were violated; Beijing rejected the ruling.

The Drills

China's military conducted joint naval and air exercises in the waters and airspace around Scarborough Shoal on September 27. The PLA Southern Theater Command stated the maneuvers were aimed at testing and improving combat capabilities for protecting territorial sovereignty and maritime rights. The command described the exercises as a necessary response to actions by 'some countries' that undermine peace and stability in the region. The Chinese coast guard held separate exercises the same day, practicing vessel boarding, inspection, blocking entry to certain areas, and forced towing.

Territorial Dispute

Scarborough Shoal is an uninhabited atoll in the South China Sea, located about 220 km from the Philippine coast and about 900 km from the nearest Chinese coast. China, the Philippines, and Taiwan all claim the shoal, which China calls Huangyan Dao and the Philippines calls Bajo de Masinloc. China has exercised de facto control over the shoal since 2012, with its coast guard regularly patrolling the waters and restricting access by Philippine fishermen. The Philippines continues to regard Scarborough Shoal as its territory.

International Reactions

The United States previously called China's decision to create a nature reserve around Scarborough Shoal 'destabilizing'. New Chinese rules prohibit fishing and mineral extraction in the area without prior permission, which Washington said restricts Philippine fishermen's access to traditional fishing grounds. In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled that China has no historic rights to resources within the nine-dash line and that Philippine fishermen's rights were violated. Beijing rejected the tribunal's ruling.