The People's Liberation Army Southern Theater Command organized naval and air forces to conduct a routine patrol in the South China Sea on Sunday, according to a command spokesman.
Senior Colonel Zhai Shichen, spokesman for the Southern Theater Command, stated on Sunday that the Philippines had drawn in countries from outside the region to organize a so-called "joint patrol", stirring up trouble in the South China Sea and undermining regional peace and stability.
Zhai affirmed that troops of the theater command would resolutely defend China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and firmly safeguard regional peace and stability.
