China Conducts Joint Military Drills Near Disputed Scarborough Shoal

The People's Liberation Army Southern Theater Command and the China Coast Guard conducted joint naval-air and law-enforcement exercises around Huangyan Dao, also known as Scarborough Shoal, on September 27, 2026. The military operations focused on reconnaissance, early warning, rapid maneuver, and joint search and rescue to test combat capabilities under actual conditions. Simultaneously, the China Coast Guard performed drills involving boarding and inspection, the interdiction of intrusions, and the forced towing of simulated foreign vessels using water cannons and drones for evidence collection.

Chinese officials described the operations as a necessary response to actions by certain countries that undermined regional peace and stability. While the military used general terms, analysts and officials identified the Philippines as the target. The drills followed a Philippine-organized field training exercise near Huangyan Dao and a Thursday resupply mission by the Philippines to a grounded vessel at Ren'ai Reef, which China characterized as a violation of agreements and a provocation.

China asserts that these exercises demonstrate its resolve to safeguard territorial sovereignty and maritime rights. The China Coast Guard stated it will continue to expand control and strengthen law enforcement in the South China Sea to deter further infringements on its claimed territory.