China conducts naval, air patrols around disputed shoal in South China Sea

BEIJING: China's military conducted joint air and naval combat drills around the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, the People's Liberation Army Southern Theater Command said in a statement on Saturday (Aug 1).The drills were held in the airspace and waters around the shoal, which China calls Huangyan Dao.The Chinese military described the drills as a necessary response to actions by "certain countries" it said were undermining regional peace and stability. It did not name any countries, but the Scarborough Shoal is also claimed by the Philippines, where it is known as Bajo de Masinloc. The Philippine embassy in Beijing did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the Chinese military drillsaround the shoal.The drills were to test and improve the combat readin