China Claims Expanded Zone Around Scarborough Shoal, Deploys New Drone

Chinese forces rehearsed enforcing Beijing’s claim to Scarborough Shoal with drones and boarding drills on Sunday amid state media claims that China has extended its control of several contested maritime features beyond 24 nautical miles.

The People’s Liberation Army Southern Theater Command and China Coast Guard held consecutive exercises within and around Scarborough Shoal, which is 120 nautical miles west of the Philippine island of Luzon.

Chinese military forces publicly showcased the deployment of a Guizhou WZ-7 Soaring Dragon drone at Scarborough Shoal for the first time. Previously used drones, such as the CAIG Wing Loong II, were also used during the weekend’s training activities. A Shaanxi KJ-500H airborne early warning and command aircraft was highlighted in released media from the command.

Type 054A frigates, a Type 056A corvette and a Type 908 replenishment vessel participated, according to the imagery. Additionally, helicopters and drones were launched from the warships.

Beijing’s expanded posture at Scarborough Shoal has involved a significant roster of advanced strike aircraft, guided-missile destroyers and surveillance platforms in recent years to counter Manila’s recent approach to the contested maritime feature, USNI News previously reported .

Chinese state media outlet Global Times reported the China Coast Guard conducted a boarding operation that simulated the interception of “a foreign ship intruding into territorial waters.” According to the report, China has extended its “control” of Scarborough and Second Thomas Shoals beyond 24 nautical miles.

“China’s legitimate control around [Scarborough Shoal] and [Second Thomas Shoal] has now extended beyond 24 nautical miles, while regular control has been established around [Sabina Shoal] and [Sandy Cay]. The scope of China’s control is continuing to expand. The more the Philippine side provokes, the stronger the China Coast Guard’s control measures will become,” reads the Global Times story.

According to maritime tracking data, China’s forward-deployed warships and cutters at South China Sea flashpoints such as Scarborough Shoal regularly intercept Philippine vessels around 30-40 nautical miles from the maritime feature. Beijing uses its expansive fleet of vessels and sensors to tag and track Manila’s efforts to counter Chinese territorial claims. Further tracking from the SeaLight Foundation shows that Chinese cutters shadow vessels as soon as they leave the 12 nautical mile territorial waters.

These Chinese state media claims coincide with the recent blocking of a Philippine resupply mission to BRP Sierra Madre (LT-57) at Second Thomas Shoal. Beijing said Manila did not properly clear the voyage under the yet to be disclosed provisional agreement between the two countries following the June 17 Incident of 2024. Friday’s encounter marked the first publicly revealed instance of a blocked resupply mission since the agreement was inked.

China claims that Sunday’s drills were in response to the Philippine-led ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting – Plus maritime security exercise held last week. Eleven vessels from eight nations, including the U.S., Japan, Australia, India and Singapore, joined the Philippines for activities within the vicinity of Scarborough Shoal. The Philippines invited a shadowing Chinese frigate to join the drill, but received no response.

Aaron-Matthew Lariosa

Aaron-Matthew Lariosa is a freelance defense journalist. His coverage focuses on Philippine defense modernization, the South China Sea and U.S. efforts in the first island chain. Follow @AaronMatthewI_L