# Scarborough Shoal
Latest news and articles about Scarborough Shoal
Total: 7 articles found
After Manila Declares No‑Sail Zone at Scarborough, PLA Sends a Stark Message
The Philippines declared a no‑sail zone near Scarborough Shoal, prompting Chinese commentary that the PLA responded with operations intended to ‘‘slap’’ Manila down. The episode highlights the fragile mix of routine maritime measures and high-stakes geopolitics in the South China Sea, with risks of further escalation unless diplomatic de‑escalation follows.
China Flies H-6K Bombers over Scarborough Shoal to Signal Control and Reach
China’s Southern Theater Command sent H-6K strategic bombers and fighters to patrol around Huangyan Island (Scarborough Shoal), signalling Beijing’s assertion of control and showcasing the H-6K’s extended strike and sensing capabilities. The deployment responds to a Philippine move to designate an exercise area covering the shoal and highlights the growing role of long-range Chinese airpower in South China Sea disputes.
PLA Bomber Patrols Over Huangyan Signal Beijing’s Harder Line Toward Manila
China’s Southern Theater Command dispatched H‑6K bombers and fighters on patrols over Huangyan Island on 31 January, a move Beijing says enforces its jurisdiction and rebukes Philippine attempts to declare nearby exercise areas. The flights reflect a broader strategy of regularized bomber presence and calibrated coercion intended to deter Manila while emphasising Chinese claims of humanitarian assistance and restraint.
Beijing’s Show of Force Over Scarborough: Armed PLA Flights as Manila’s Exercise Zone Escalates Tensions
China staged naval patrols and armed air overflights near Scarborough Shoal after the Philippines included the feature in a declared exercise zone, signalling Beijing’s readiness to defend what it calls sovereign territory. The episode increases the risk of miscalculation and highlights the limits of legal rulings and the growing role of calibrated coercion in the South China Sea.
China Flies H-6K Bombers over Scarborough Shoal in Direct Rebuke to Philippine 'Exercise Zone'
China’s Southern Theater Command conducted sea-air combat-readiness patrols over Huangyan Dao (Scarborough Shoal) on 31 January, publishing routes that included H-6K bombers and fighters. Beijing framed the flights as both a rejection of Philippine-declared exercise zones and a demonstration of de facto control, raising the stakes in a long-running dispute with Manila.
China Coast Guard Rescues and Hands Over 17 Filipino Seafarers Near Disputed Scarborough Shoal
The China Coast Guard rescued 17 Filipino seafarers after a cargo vessel capsized near Huangyan (Scarborough Shoal) on January 23, handing them to Philippine authorities on January 25. Two crew members died and four remain missing, and the operation highlights both humanitarian cooperation and the geopolitical sensitivities of conducting rescues in contested South China Sea waters.
China Coast Guard Rescues Dozens After Philippines Crew Ship Capsizes Near Scarborough Shoal, Highlighting Humanitarian Role and Geopolitical Significance
China Coast Guard ships Dongsha and Sanmen conducted a search-and-rescue operation after a foreign cargo vessel carrying 21 Filipino crew capsized near Huangyan Island on January 23, recovering 13 people so far. The rescue underscores the humanitarian role of China’s coast guard while highlighting the geopolitical sensitivities of operating near the disputed Scarborough Shoal.