Naval and air units of the Southern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) conducted readiness patrols in the territorial sea and airspace of China’s Huangyan Dao and its surrounding areas on Saturday. According to pilot communications featured in officially released footage, Chinese naval and air forces entered the area of the so-called joint patrols conducted by the Philippines, the US, Japan and Australia, Yuyuantantian, a social media account affiliated with China's state broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV), explained the three considerations on Saturday evening.

The official footage also showed the coordinated deployment of early warning aircraft, anti-submarine aircraft, fighter jets and bombers, demonstrating the PLA’s system-based, integrated maritime and aerial combat patrol capability, Yuyuantantian said.

We remain on high alert in the face of any provocation, ready to move out upon command and take resolute countermeasures to firmly safeguard peace and stability in the waters and airspace of Huangyan Dao, an air force pilot said in the video.

A statement released by the official Wechat account of the PLA Southern Theater Command stated on Saturday that Huangyan Dao is an inalienable part of China’s territory. Since February, naval and air units of the Southern Theater Command have enhanced readiness patrols in the territorial sea and airspace of Huangyan Dao and its surrounding areas. Such patrols serve as an effective countermeasure to cope with all sorts of rights-violation and provocative acts, and respond to the so-called joint patrols by relevant countries. They are meant to resolutely safeguard China’s territorial sovereignty and uphold peace and stability in the South China Sea.

The naval forces of the PLA Southern Theater Command conducted a routine patrol in the South China Sea from February 23 to 26. The Philippines co-opted countries outside the region to organize so-called joint patrols, disrupting peace and stability in the region, Senior Captain Zhai Shichen, spokesperson for the PLA Southern Theater Command, said in a statement on Friday.

Forces of the PLA Southern Theater Command will resolutely safeguard China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and firmly uphold regional peace and stability, the spokesperson said.

In response to the so-called joint patrols, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang said on Saturday afternoon that extraterritorial countries such as the US have traveled great distances to the South China Sea to flex their military muscle and deliberately stir up trouble, serving as the source of instability and tension. The Philippines has repeatedly carried out infringements and provocations against China by relying on external forces to make waves at sea, undermining the shared interests of regional countries and acting as an outright troublemaker and disruptor of peace.

China has indisputable sovereignty over the islands in the South China Sea and their adjacent waters, and enjoys sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the relevant waters. China’s activities in waters under its jurisdiction are normal and lawful, and the necessary measures it takes to safeguard sovereignty and rights are legitimate, professional and restrained. The Chinese military remains on high alert at all times, will resolutely counter any acts of infringement and provocation, and will never allow any attempt to disrupt the South China Sea to succeed, thereby safeguarding peace and stability in the region, Zhang said.