China Increases Military and Coast Guard Patrols Near Scarborough Shoal

The People's Liberation Army Southern Theater Command and the China Coast Guard conducted joint combat readiness and law enforcement patrols in the waters and airspace of Huangyan Dao, also known as Scarborough Shoal, on March 29, 2026.

Naval and air forces performed tracking, monitoring, warning, and expelling operations, while the China Coast Guard focused on managing illegal and infringing vessels. Both agencies reported an increase in the frequency of these missions since March to safeguard maritime interests and territorial sovereignty.

The Southern Theater Command asserted that Huangyan Dao is an inalienable part of China's territory. The command described the increased military presence as an effective countermeasure to cope with rights-violation and provocative acts in the region.