China conducts 'combat readiness' patrols in Scarborough despite PH's assertion of sovereignty

China's Southern Theatre navy conducted combat readiness patrols on Saturday around the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, Reuters reported citing Xinhua news agency.

China's navy has continuously intensified patrols and surveillance in the surrounding waters and airspace in the area, further strengthening control over the relevant maritime and aerial domains, Xinhua said.

Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (WPS) Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad denied China's claim.

"Monitoring by the Navy and the AFP of the West Phil Sea to include our sovereign waters around BdM ( Bajo de Masinloc) and all over our EEZ indicate no such activity," Trinidad said.

Trinidad reported that as of Saturday morning, sighted at the Scarborough Shoal were two CCG (China Coast Guard) ships, six maritime militia vessels, four fishing boats from Vietnam and three other vessels from Taiwan.

"No activity of PLA-N (People's Liberation Army Navy) was monitored. News like these are all part of information shaping operations by the CH Communist Party to address any internal dissent or shape the international discourse to their favor," Trinidad said.

EXPLAINER: What is Scarborough Shoal and why is it important? 

Scarborough Shoal, which is also being claimed by the Philippines, is a triangular coral reef formation which surrounds a lagoon, is famed for its rich waters and marine resources.

It is also referred to as Bajo de Masinloc or Panatag Shoal.

Scarborough Shoal is located 124 nautical miles off Masinloc, Zambales and is considered within the Philippines’ 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone, based on the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). 

In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines over China's claims in the South China Sea, saying that it had "no legal basis."

Last month, the Philippines cited its sovereignty in the area after China called out Manila for its alleged illegal intrusion into Scarborough Shoal.

“These are all part of shaping or malign info operations more likely for their internal audience,” Trinidad said.

“Only the Philippine Navy and other Philippine flagged law enforcement ships have the authority and legal bases to challenge any ship within maritime zones,” he added.

Parts of the South China Sea that fall within Philippine territory have been renamed by the government as West Philippine Sea to reinforce the country’s claim.

The West Philippine Sea refers to the maritime areas on the western side of the Philippine archipelago including Luzon Sea and the waters around, within and adjacent to the Kalayaan Island Group and Bajo de Masinloc. —with reports from Reuters and Jamil Santos/VAL/VBL, GMA Integrated News