China’s Southern Theater Command reported conducting naval and air patrols around Scarborough Shoal on Saturday. The area is a disputed territory in the South China Sea, claimed by multiple countries in the region. The patrols are part of China’s ongoing military activities to assert its presence in the area.
**Why this matters**
Scarborough Shoal is a strategic location contested by China, the Philippines, and other Southeast Asian nations. Military patrols in this region can heighten tensions and impact regional security and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, a vital international shipping route.
Source: News Source