What Signals Does the PLA's "Combat Patrol of Huangyan Island" Convey?

[Global Times Report, Journalists Guo Yuandan and Liang Rui] The "Southern Theater Command" WeChat account announced on September 2 that the People's Liberation Army Southern Theater Command organized naval and air forces on September 2 to conduct combat readiness patrols in the territorial waters and airspace around China's Huangyan Island.

The video of the patrol around Huangyan Island released by the Southern Theater Command shows that the PLA dispatched various types of fighter jets and combat vessels to conduct combat readiness patrols in the territorial waters and airspace around Huangyan Island. Chinese military pilots warned the pilots of Philippine aircraft: "You are approaching the airspace of Huangyan Island. To avoid misunderstandings and misjudgments, please move away immediately." "Philippine aircraft, you have intruded into the airspace of Huangyan Island. Leave immediately, leave immediately, or I will take measures against you."

The Southern Theater Command stated on September 2 that Huangyan Island is an inherent territory of China. Since August, the Southern Theater Command has continuously organized naval and air forces to strengthen patrol and alert operations in the air and sea areas surrounding Huangyan Island, further enhancing control over these areas, effectively responding to various infringement provocations, resolutely defending national sovereignty and security, and firmly maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea region.

A major highlight of this video is the "Combat Patrol Huangyan Island" themed logo at the top of the video. Military experts interviewed by the Global Times stated that this logo is an official "visual tone-setting," using iconic design to declare to the outside world, especially in response to Philippine infringement provocations: this is Chinese territory, and the PLA has absolute control.

The "Combat Patrol Huangyan Island" logo features the outline of the Huangyan Island atoll as the visual core, overlaid with silhouettes of aircraft and ships along with wave lines, and includes the text "Combat Patrol Huangyan Island"; the circular atoll signifies China's inherent territorial sovereignty and baseline of territorial waters; the air and sea silhouettes highlight the integrated control system of manned and unmanned coordination, collectively setting the tone for normalized combat readiness patrols and the responsibilities of a major power.

Additionally, the video released by the Southern Theater Command frequently features the image of the JL-10 advanced trainer aircraft. "This seemingly 'downgraded' choice of aircraft reflects China's strategic restraint and baseline responsibility as a responsible major power," the military expert stated.

It was noted that in response to the Philippine side's use of low-speed turboprop aircraft like the C-208 and NC-212 to edge into the airspace and provoke through Western media, China did not deploy heavy fighter jets for "killing a chicken with a bull's knife," but instead sent the JL-10, which has excellent low-altitude and low-speed performance, capable of stable long-duration flight for monitoring and bilingual warnings. The video shows that the JL-10 flew with live ammunition, maintaining a "combat-ready" baseline, yet kept its actions within the low-intensity control range of "verification—warning—displacement," avoiding escalation and refraining from firing unless necessary. "This indicates that China has the capability to manage the Huangyan Island issue with strength, patience, and determination," the aforementioned military expert stated.

At the end of the video, there is a line: "After 16 years of graduation, the instructor and I patrol Huangyan Island together." The military expert indicated that this reflects the intergenerational inheritance of flight talent, the bloodline continuity of comrades standing shoulder to shoulder in defense of the territory, and the responsibility of nurturing the system.

Chinese military expert Zhang Xuefeng mentioned in an interview with Global Times reporters on September 2 that from the dialogue in the video released by the Southern Theater Command, it can be seen that the pilot of the JL-10 advanced trainer aircraft is a flight instructor. Involving flight instructors in actual interception tasks of combat units can better enhance their practical experience. This practical experience is more beneficial for them to improve students' awareness of real combat and training levels in future teaching.