PLA and China Coast Guard conduct drills around Huangyan Island

The Chinese People's Liberation Army Southern Theater Command conducted joint air and maritime exercises on Sunday in the waters and airspace around Huangyan Island in the South China Sea.

The theater command said the exercises were necessary in response to actions by certain countries that undermine regional peace and stability.

The drills focused on combat-oriented tasks, including reconnaissance and early warning, rapid maneuvering, and joint search and rescue. They tested and enhanced troops' capabilities in air-maritime coordination, rapid support and integrated operations, according to a statement from the theater command.

The exercises were aimed at testing and enhancing troops' ability to safeguard national territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests under actual combat conditions, it said.

In the meantime, the China Coast Guard conducted a rights-protection and law enforcement exercise in the waters around Huangyan on the same day, focusing on operations including boarding and inspection, intercepting vessels attempting to force their way through and forced towing.

Jiang Lue, a spokesman for the CCG, said it will step up law enforcement and rights-protection efforts in the waters around Huangyan to resolutely safeguard national territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.

An expert said the exercises provided realistic, combat-oriented training for both the PLA and CCG, demonstrating their high level of combat readiness.

Zhang Chi, a professor at PLA National Defense University, said the joint exercises served as a stern warning to the Philippines over its infringement and provocative actions, and were a necessary response to its continued efforts to undermine peace and stability in the South China Sea.

The joint exercises came after the Philippines violated relevant commitments and agreements by proceeding — despite China's warnings — with a resupply mission on Thursday to deliver supplies to a Philippine vessel that had been illegally grounded at Ren'ai Reef.

Zhang said the joint exercises conducted by China were "legitimate and necessary", adding that the standardized measures were necessary to safeguard China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, as well as to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea.

"The joint exercises were intended to make clear the boundaries and rules for the Philippines and to ensure that it understands that, in the face of China's legitimate sovereignty and rights and interests, firm resolve to safeguard them, and strong capabilities to do so, no matter what maneuvers it attempts or whom it seeks to enlist for support, its illegal schemes will not succeed," he said.