Key facts
- China's military conducted combat readiness patrols around Scarborough Shoal on Friday.
- The patrols are a response to alleged Philippine rights violations and provocative acts.
- The China Coast Guard also conducted law-enforcement patrols in the area.
China's military said on Friday its naval and air forces conducted combat readiness patrols around Scarborough Shoal, a flashpoint in the South China Sea. The People's Liberation Army Southern Theater Command stated the patrols were a necessary countermeasure in response to the Philippines' alleged rights violations and provocative acts, and that such patrols have been strengthened this month. The China Coast Guard also conducted law-enforcement patrols in the waters around the shoal on Friday, describing them as necessary countermeasures. Tensions between China and the Philippines resurfaced at a recent ASEAN defence gathering, with Beijing accusing a Philippine politician of obstructing its participation.