China conducts patrol around disputed South China Sea shoal

BEIJING, March 29 (Reuters) - ‌China conducted ​naval, ​air and coast guard patrols around the Scarborough Shoal in ‌the South China Sea on Sunday, its ⁠military and Coast Guard said.

The shoal is in ‌the Philippines' exclusive ‌economic zone but China also claims it as part of its territory.

The patrols ​came after Beijing and Manila restarted high-level talks last week over the disputed ⁠waters and discussed oil and gas cooperation in the ​area.

The talks were also the first broader discussion on bilateral relations since ​March 2023, aimed at ‌confidence building among others, the Philippine foreign ministry said on Saturday.

Recent ⁠maritime confrontations have heightened tensions, with Manila accusing Beijing of "dangerous manoeuvres" and deploying water ⁠cannon to interfere with its resupply missions in contested ​areas.

"Such patrols serve as an effective countermeasure to cope with all sorts of rights-violation and provocative ‌acts," the Chinese military's Southern Theater Command said in a ‌statement on Sunday.

The Philippine embassy in Beijing ⁠did not immediately ‌respond to a ​request for comment.

(Reporting by Ju-min Park, Yukun Zhang; Editing by Christian ‌Schmollinger)

---

Serious News for Serious Traders! Try StreetInsider.com Premium Free!

---

You May Also Be Interested In

• Iran's Khamenei urges Gulf rulers in written message to confront 'real enemy'
• Bessent says disorderly yen moves can destabilize global markets
• GM union deal would invest C$1.1 billion in Canada auto factories amid US tariff pressure