PLA patrols South China Sea amid strained ties with the Philippines over Taiwan and territorial disputes

People’s Liberation Army conducts routine operations on Lunar New Year’s Eve after Manila orders increase in troops in northern province near Taiwan

Chinese military vows to ensure national security and social stability during the holiday, according to official newspaper

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China has warned the Philippines against “playing with fire” in response to Manila’s plans to increase military deployment in the north of the country. Photo: AFP / Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Western Command

Published: 6:11pm, 10 Feb 2024

The Chinese military announced it conducted routine patrols in the South China Sea amid heightened tensions with the Philippines over the disputed waterway and Manila’s plans to ramp up troop deployment near Taiwan.

The People’s Liberation Army Southern Theatre Command said on its official WeChat account that its naval and air forces organised routine patrols in the disputed waters on Lunar New Year’s Eve on Friday.

“Troops in the theatre remain on high alert at all times and will resolutely defend national sovereignty, security and maritime rights and interests,” the statement said.

The command covers the southern provinces of Guangdong, Hainan, Hunan, Yunnan, and Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region as well as the coastal regions of Hong Kong and Macau.

The exercise came a day after the Chinese foreign ministry warned Manila against “playing with fire” in response to news that Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jnr had ordered an increase in troops and construction on Batanes, the island country’s northernmost province, which is less than 200km (124 miles) from Taiwan.

“Starting 2024, the operational tempo for the [Armed Forces of the Philippines] will be higher,” Teodoro said according to an official statement earlier in the week.