BEIJING, March 29 (Xinhua) -- Naval and air units of the People's Liberation Army Southern Theater Command on Sunday conducted combat readiness patrols in the territorial waters and airspace of China's Huangyan Dao and its surrounding areas.

An aerial drone photo taken on Nov. 14, 2025 shows a panoramic view of China's Huangyan Dao in the South China Sea. Huangyan Dao is part of China's Zhongsha Qundao with diverse natural ecosystem. (Photo: Xinhua)

Stressing that Huangyan Dao is an inalienable part of China's territory, the command said in a statement that its naval and air forces have enhanced readiness patrols there since March, and carried out tracking, monitoring, warning and expelling operations in accordance with laws and regulations.

"Such patrols serve as an effective countermeasure to cope with all sorts of rights-violation and provocative acts," it said.