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According to the state-run Global Times, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Southern Theater Command announced that it conducted the patrol with bombers amid a “joint patrol” with the Philippines, marking the first time such a patrol has been conducted.
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South China: The Chinese military conducted its first-ever patrol over the South China Sea with its bomber and fighter jets. The aircraft flew in unison to demonstrate their aerial surveillance capabilities. This move was in response to the Philippines conducting joint naval patrols with the US and Japan.
China claims almost the entire South China Sea. The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan also claim the region, which is crucial for international trade routes.
According to the state-run Global Times, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Southern Theater Command announced that it conducted the patrol with bombers amid a "joint patrol" with the Philippines, marking the first time such a patrol has been conducted. The two-day US-Japan-Philippines maritime exercise lasted from Friday to Saturday.
Colonel Tian Junli, spokesperson for the Southern Theater Command, said in a statement that the Philippines is conducting "joint patrols" with external forces, which is undermining regional stability. He said, "We strongly warn the Philippines to immediately stop provocative and escalating actions."
He added that the PLA is always on high alert and will safeguard China's sovereignty and security in the South China Sea. He added that any attempt to violate sovereignty will not be allowed to succeed.
Military experts said the formation with bombers is a way to demonstrate the PLA's strike capabilities. Expert Song Zhongping told the Global Times that these bombers can carry out multiple attacks (saturation attacks) against large warships, despite their presence.
He said that the Philippines is colluding with external countries to challenge China's claims, so this patrol is a form of warning. Philippine and Chinese ships have clashed several times in recent months, leading to increased tensions.
Tensions between China and Japan also increased.
China's patrol comes at a time of rising tensions between Japan and China. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi recently stated that a Chinese attack on Taiwan would pose a grave threat to Japan. This statement has sparked controversy between the two countries.
The PLA Daily warned on Sunday that if Japan intervened militarily in the Taiwan issue, "all of Japan could become a battlefield." Meanwhile, reports indicate that Takaichi's popularity in Japan has risen to 69.9 percent following his tough stance.
In the survey, 60.4 percent supported increasing the defense budget, and nearly 49 percent supported Japan's right to self-defense during the Taiwan crisis.
