Beijing: China announced on Wednesday that it has conducted 'law enforcement patrols' near Huangyan Dao, a disputed territory also known as Scarborough Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc, located in the South China Sea. This area is also claimed by the Philippines.
According to Anadolu Agency, the China Coast Guard stated that it "conducted law enforcement patrols in the territorial sea of Huangyan Dao and its surrounding waters," as per a statement released on China's official military website. The statement emphasized that since December, the China Coast Guard has consistently carried out patrols in accordance with "laws and regulations."
The China Coast Guard further noted its actions in regulating vessels involved in illegal activities, aiming to strengthen control over the area and safeguard China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights. As of now, Manila has not responded to Beijing's latest declaration regarding these patrols.
The territory, known as Huangyan Dao, Scarborough Shoal, or Bajo de Masinloc, has been a longstanding point of contention between China and the Philippines, with both nations claiming sovereignty over the area. The shoal remains a significant flashpoint in the maritime disputes between the two countries.
Separately, the Philippines reported deploying an aircraft on Tuesday to address the presence of a Chinese research ship near Cagayan province in northern Philippines. Philippine Coast Guard spokesman Jay Tarriela shared via US social media platform X that after detecting the Chinese Research Vessel, the Coast Guard pilot issued multiple radio challenges to ascertain the vessel's intentions and reminded it of the need for prior consent for conducting marine scientific research in Philippine waters.