China conducts naval, air patrols around disputed shoal

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

China has stepped ‌up combat readiness patrols in the area in ​January, "resolutely countering the infringement provocations of ‍individual countries within the region," the post said.

The militaries of the ​Philippines ​and the ​United States carried out joint ​exercises in the Scarborough Shoal area earlier this week, in the 11th such drill since November 2023, Manila's armed forces said on Tuesday.