Amid ongoing maritime disputes between China and the Philippines, Chinese authorities announced that from Monday (August 24), they will conduct live-fire drills in parts of the South China Sea for five consecutive days, with each day featuring 10 hours of live-fire exercises.
According to information from the China Maritime Safety Administration website, the Zhanjiang Maritime Safety Administration has issued a navigation warning: from Monday to Friday (August 24 to 28), every day from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., live-fire drills will be conducted in parts of the South China Sea, and entry to these areas is prohibited.
Based on the announced no-navigation zone's coordinates, the live-fire drill area is roughly located in the offshore waters southeast of the Leizhou Peninsula in Guangdong, within the northern South China Sea and to the north of the eastern entrance to the Qiongzhou Strait.
Previously, on Friday (August 21), the Southern Theater Command of the PLA posted on its official social media account. Air Force spokesperson Colonel Li Jianjian stated that on that day, three small Philippine aircraft—the Islander, C-208, and PA-31T—entered the airspace over China's Huangyan Island (referred to as Scarborough Shoal by the Philippines) without Chinese government approval. The Southern Theater Command organized naval and air forces to monitor, track, and issue warnings.
Li Jianjian stated that the Philippine action seriously infringed on China's sovereignty and is highly likely to cause misunderstanding and misjudgment, warning Manila to immediately cease its infringements and provocations. The Southern Theater Command forces remain on high alert at all times, resolutely safeguarding China's sovereignty, security, and regional peace and stability.
On Saturday (August 22), the Global Times quoted sources from the Chinese military as saying that the Philippines had solicited extraterritorial countries to stir up trouble in the South China Sea and organized joint patrols, with the PLA monitoring and remaining on alert throughout the operation, keeping the situation fully under control.