The People's Liberation Army and Coast Guard Show Strength in the South China Sea, Experts Uncover Dual Signals of Firmness and Flexibility

[Global Times - Global Network Report by reporter Guo Yuandan] The Southern Theater Command announced on the 27th that the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Southern Theater Command organized a joint naval and air exercise in the air and sea areas around Huangyan Island on the same day. Meanwhile, the China Coast Guard conducted law enforcement control exercises with multiple vessels in the waters near Huangyan Island in the South China Sea.

According to reports from CCTV, the PLA's exercise today focused on practical training in reconnaissance and early warning, rapid maneuvering, and joint search and rescue, effectively testing the troops' capabilities in naval and air coordination, rapid support, and system victory.

On the same day, the China Coast Guard organized multiple vessels to conduct law enforcement control exercises in the waters near Huangyan Island, focusing on law enforcement actions such as boarding inspections, interception of intrusions, and forced towing, in order to strengthen control over the waters around Huangyan Island and to test rapid response and emergency handling capabilities.

From the above reports, it can be seen that today the PLA and the China Coast Guard cooperated in this exercise, with the Coast Guard's training focusing on "law enforcement control." It is noteworthy that in addition to testing reconnaissance and early warning capabilities for target detection and identification, maritime and aerial intelligence analysis, and the rapid response capability of forces reaching the emergency response area, this exercise also included "joint maritime and aerial search and rescue."

"On one hand, this reflects the PLA's firm stance on safeguarding national territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests; on the other hand, it demonstrates China's practical commitment to maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea and fulfilling humanitarian rescue responsibilities at sea," said Zhang Chi, a professor at the National Defense University, in an analysis for the Global Times on the 27th.

In recent years, the Philippine side has repeatedly attempted to breach our Coast Guard's control line in the waters near Huangyan Island under the guise of government vessels and fishing boats, creating an illegal presence. "Therefore, in this exercise, our Coast Guard focused on actions such as boarding inspections, interception of intrusions, and forced towing against foreign vessels illegally entering our jurisdictional waters," Zhang Chi further analyzed, stating that the emphasis on "law enforcement control" sends a clear message to the outside world: any attempt to encroach on China's sovereignty through a "salami-slicing" approach is a delusion that is destined to fail; the China Coast Guard will continue to strengthen law enforcement patrols in China's jurisdictional waters, resolutely safeguarding national territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.

Regarding another key subject: "joint maritime and aerial search and rescue," Zhang Chi noted that the South China Sea is an important maritime shipping route in the world. For decades, 50% of global merchant ships and one-third of maritime trade pass through this area. At the same time, ship malfunctions and sinking incidents also occur from time to time.

Public reports indicate that on January 22 of this year, a Singapore-flagged cargo ship encountered distress in the waters near Huangyan Island. On July 24, a Vietnamese cargo ship encountered distress in the waters near the Nansha Islands.

Zhang Chi emphasized that the exercise fully reflects China's active fulfillment of great power responsibilities, the implementation of the concept of a maritime community with a shared future, and humanitarian spirit; it also fully proves that China is genuinely committed to peace and stability in the South China Sea and ensuring navigation safety. "In contrast, the Philippine side treats the South China Sea as a stage for political manipulation, undermining regional security."