The Chinese military held joint naval and air drills near Scarborough Shoal, a disputed reef in the South China Sea, on Saturday.
The training exercise came after Beijing hit out at the Philippines for an “illegal” attempt to extend its seabed rights off the coast of Palawan and map out its claims to the reef.
“This is a necessary action taken in light of the current situation in the South China Sea and in response to the acts of certain countries within the region that have undermined regional peace and stability,” the People’s Liberation Army Southern Theatre Command wrote in a social media post.
“The training exercise aims to test and enhance the forces’ real combat capabilities to safeguard China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.”
Scarborough Shoal, known as Huangyan Island in China and Panatag Shoal in the Philippines, is one of the main flashpoints in the long-running territorial dispute between the two countries.
Saturday’s drills were staged in and around the reef’s territorial sea and airspace, testing the PLA’s ability to coordinate air and sea operations and provide rapid reinforcements, state broadcaster CCTV reported.