On June 30 the PLA Southern Theater deployed naval and air assets to conduct
combat-readiness patrols in the territorial sea, airspace and adjacent maritime
areas around Huangyan Island. China asserts Huangyan Island as sovereign
territory. Since June, theater forces have increased patrols and surveillance
around the island to respond to infringement and provocative acts and to defend
national sovereignty and security and maintain stability in the South China Sea.
