On Saturday, August 1, 2026, China's People's Liberation Army Southern Theater Command announced joint naval and air combat drills conducted around the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea. The exercises took place in the airspace and waters surrounding the shoal, which China refers to as Huangyan Dao.
The Chinese military described the drills as a necessary response to actions by "certain countries" it claimed were undermining regional peace and stability, though it did not specify which countries. The drills aimed to test and improve the combat readiness of China's forces to defend national territorial sovereignty and maritime rights.
Scarborough Shoal is also claimed by the Philippines, where it is known as Bajo de Masinloc. The Philippine embassy in Beijing did not immediately comment on the Chinese military activities.
In addition to the drills, China issued a new policy on the administration of the Huangyan Island National Nature Reserve, established in September 2025. According to the Xinhua news agency, the policy bans unauthorized fishing, mining, coral or giant clam extraction, and other harmful activities within the reserve. Violators of the ban will face legal accountability. The China Coast Guard will conduct regular patrols around the reserve to enforce these regulations.
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