China Patrols Scarborough Shoal After Philippines Warns of Threat Maritime Activity Reports, Inc. May 31, 2026 © Mariusz / Adobe Stock China's military and coast guard said they carried out patrols near disputed waters in the South China Sea on Sunday, a day after the Philippines said it remained under threat from Beijing despite a recent easing in U.S.-China tensions. Philippine and U.S. forces held a five-day maritime exercise in the same waters last week near the Scarborough Shoal, the third such drill this year, to strengthen interoperability and maritime security, the Philippine military said on Sunday. Scarborough Shoal, in waters that Manila calls the West Philippine Sea, is one of Asia's most contested maritime features and has become a frequent flashpoint between China and the Philippines over sovereignty and fishing rights. CHINA CLAIMS 'RIGHTS VIOLATIONS, PROVOCATIVE ACTS' The People's Liberation Army's Southern Theatre Command said in a statement on the WeChat platform that its naval and air units carried out combat readiness patrols in the "territorial sea and airspace" of the atoll and its surrounding areas. "Such patrols serve as an effective countermeasure to cope with all sorts of rights violations and provocative acts", the command said. It did not mention specific countries. China's coast guard said in a separate statement it conducted law enforcement patrols near the Scarborough Shoal, adding that since this month it had dealt with ships engaged in "illegal rights-violation activities in accordance with laws and regulations", without elaborating. The Armed Forces of the Philippines said the exercise with the U.S. from Tuesday to Saturday, including visit-board-search-and-seizure drills, underscored both countries' commitment to stronger defence ties, improved maritime domain awareness and support for a rules-based order at sea. The Philippine embassy in Beijing did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment. 'SEVERE THREAT' China's