The Southern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) organized naval and air forces to conduct a combat readiness patrol on Saturday in the territorial waters and airspace of Huangyan Dao and surrounding areas, according to a statement published by the official WeChat account of the PLA Southern Theater Command on Saturday.

An H-6K bomber armed with YJ-12 anti-ship missiles and the Type 055 large destroyer Xianyang among other PLA warplanes and warships are seen in a video released by the PLA Southern Theater Command.

Huangyan Dao is China's inherent territory. Since January, the theater command has continuously strengthened naval and air patrols in the waters and airspace around the island, resolutely countering provocations and infringements by individual countries in the region, firmly safeguarding China's national sovereignty and security, and maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea, according to the statement.