China Sends Strong Message Against External Interference: PLA Conducts Routine Patrol in the South China Sea

Beijing — The Southern Theater Command of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has conducted a routine naval patrol in the South China Sea. According to a statement released on Tuesday by Senior Colonel Tian Junli of the Air Force, spokesperson for the PLA Southern Theater Command, the patrol was carried out from Sunday to Monday as part of regular operations aimed at safeguarding regional security and stability.

Spokesperson Tian noted that the Philippines’ move to rope in countries outside the region to organize so-called “joint patrols” is a disruptive action that undermines peace and stability in the South China Sea. Such activities, he said, weaken regional trust and create unnecessary tensions.

He emphasized that the forces of the Southern Theater Command remain firmly committed to resolutely safeguarding China’s national territorial sovereignty as well as its maritime rights and interests. At the same time, the PLA will continue to stay vigilant and proactive in upholding regional peace, stability, and security.

Reiterating China’s position that the South China Sea should be developed as a region of cooperation and peace, the statement warned that external interference only adds complexity to the situation. China maintains that resolving disputes through dialogue and mutual understanding among regional countries is the fundamental basis for long-term stability, the statement said.