Yesterday, August 7, the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) conducted combat patrols in the South China Sea in response to recent exercises in the region by Australia, Canada, the Philippines, and the United States. Specifically, the activity was managed by the PLA Southern Theater Command and took place around Huangyan Island (known as Scarborough Shoal in the Philippines).
Although the specific units involved have not been detailed, local sources report that both naval and aerial elements were engaged. The Philippine government claims that up to three Chinese Navy ships were detected observing the exercise, though their types were not specified. It is clear that the area, which sees an annual trade volume of three billion dollars and has significant energy resources (mainly gas and oil), is subject to constant back-and-forth in relations between neighboring countries.
Regarding the combined exercises led by the U.S., it is noted that this is the first time such exercises have been conducted with all four participating nations in the region, lasting a total of two days. It is also relevant to mention that amidst the highly tense relations between the Philippines and China, the Southeast Asian country conducted exercises with Japan in the same waters last week.
To better understand the significance of this patrol, the Global Times consulted Ding Duo, Deputy Director of the Institute of Maritime Law and Policy at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies. The analyst stated that China views these moves by the Philippines as an “invitation to wolves into their own house,” drawing a large number of foreign military forces into the region, which exacerbates the territorial dispute between the two nations. Meanwhile, military expert Zhang Junshe considers that the exercise was merely a symbolic show of support from the U.S. to the “Philippine provocations.”
Finally, it should be noted that U.S. aircraft conducted an interception of Chinese and Russian H-6K and Tu-95MS bombers over the territory surrounding Alaska; specifically, long-range bombers were intercepted by F-16, F-35A, and Canadian CF-18 Hornet fighters under NORAD coordination. This was the first time the Asian giant has deployed such assets so close to U.S. territory, as part of the eighth combined strategic air patrol over the Bering Sea, the Chukchi Sea, and the North Pacific Ocean.
*Images used for illustrative purposes
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