Public Combat Readiness Patrol Video, China Strengthens Sovereignty over Huangyan Island

[Global Times Report, Reporter Fan Wei and Liang Rui] On May 31, the Southern Theater Command released an official statement, announcing that the People's Liberation Army Southern Theater Command organized naval and air forces to conduct combat readiness patrols in the territorial waters and airspace around China's Huangyan Island. On the same day, the China Coast Guard announced that it conducted law enforcement patrols in the territorial waters and surrounding areas of Huangyan Island. Although this combat readiness patrol and law enforcement patrol are routine rights protection actions carried out by the Southern Theater Command and the China Coast Guard in the waters around Huangyan Island, in the context of the Philippines recently colluding with external countries to conduct so-called "joint maritime operations" in the waters around Huangyan Island, China's actions are clearly more targeted. Relevant military experts stated in an interview with Global Times reporters on May 31 that, against the backdrop of China's normalized presence in the waters around Huangyan Island, the actions of the Philippine side increasingly resemble a "performance."

The combat readiness patrol video released by the Southern Theater Command shows that this operation has a "strong lineup." The Southern Theater Command not only deployed multiple warships, including the Type 052D destroyer and Type 054A and 056A frigates, but also dispatched various aircraft such as the H-6K and J-16. Among them, the aerial "war god" H-6K carried YJ-12 anti-ship missiles. The China Coast Guard also had multiple law enforcement vessels patrolling in formation in the waters near Huangyan Island and closely monitoring Philippine government vessels operating outside the contiguous zone of Huangyan Island.

The U.S. Navy's Seventh Fleet reported on May 30 that from May 26 to 30, the U.S. and the Philippines conducted joint maritime operations in the so-called Philippine "exclusive economic zone," marking the first participation of the U.S. Coast Guard in this joint operation. Both sides deployed multiple vessels and aircraft, but the U.S. did not disclose specific maritime areas, while Philippine media reported that the operation took place in the waters near China's Huangyan Island.

"Given that the Southern Theater Command and the Coast Guard have already implemented normalized control over Huangyan Island, the area of joint patrols by the Philippine side is actually closer to the Luzon side and farther from Huangyan Island, showing characteristics of 'loud thunder but little rain,' with more of a performative nature than actual significance," military expert Zhang Junsha analyzed in an interview with Global Times reporters on May 31. He stated that the Philippine side superficially claims to maintain regional peace, but in reality, it has always sought to draw in external forces to back its provocative actions in the South China Sea.

Zhang Junsha believes that the true intention of the U.S. participation in these actions is to continue leveraging countries in the "first island chain," such as Japan and the Philippines, to strengthen military deployments, allowing these countries to act as "watchdogs." The U.S. does not want direct military confrontation with China but seeks to support the Philippines in continuing to provoke China as a pawn. Zhang Junsha stated that the "performative" patrols by the U.S. and the Philippines may have some effect in public opinion but will not achieve the political results the Philippines hopes for. Regardless of how the Philippine side and external countries act, it will not shake China's determination to safeguard national sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, nor will it allow the Philippine side's attempts to occupy China's South China Sea islands and reefs to succeed.