Sat May 31 05:46:12 UTC 2025: **News Article:**

**China Flexes Military Muscle in Contested Waters, Raising Tensions**

**Beijing, China** – China’s military has conducted “combat readiness patrols” near the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, escalating tensions in the region. The drills coincide with South Korea’s announcement of discovering additional Chinese buoys in the Yellow Sea, further highlighting Beijing’s assertive maritime activities.

According to state media, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) conducted the exercises throughout May in the “territorial waters and airspace of China’s Huangyan Island and surrounding areas,” China’s name for the Scarborough Shoal. The PLA aims to “strengthen the control of relevant sea and air areas, resolutely defend national sovereignty and security, and resolutely maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea.”

The Scarborough Shoal, a rocky islet claimed by the Philippines, was seized by China in 2012, sparking ongoing disputes. The Philippines accuses China of “dangerous maneuvers and obstruction” following a recent incident where a Chinese naval ship damaged a Philippine coast guard vessel with a water cannon near the shoal.

Simultaneously, South Korean officials revealed the presence of three new Chinese buoys near overlapping waters in the Yellow Sea, bringing the total to 13. These buoys are located near or within a contested maritime zone where the exclusive economic zones (EEZ) of South Korea and China overlap. South Korea’s Ministry of Defence stated it is “closely monitoring activities within the provisional maritime zone [PMZ], including China’s unauthorized installation of structures, and will closely [cooperate] with relevant agencies to protect our maritime sovereignty.”

China justifies its maritime boundary based on a 1962 agreement with North Korea, a claim disputed by South Korea. The Yellow Sea PMZ is intended for joint management of marine resources, but tensions have risen due to China’s repeated installation of structures in the area. Furthermore, China’s recent declaration of three no-sail zones in the Yellow Sea has fueled concerns in Seoul about increased Chinese military activity.

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