The Southern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) organized frontline naval and air forces to closely monitor the Philippines' "joint air patrol" in the South China Sea on Monday, the command said in a statement.

"The Philippine side brought together non-regional country to stir up trouble in the South China Sea, and publicly hyped up the air patrol," according to the statement.

The troops maintain a high degree of vigilance to resolutely defend national territorial integrity and maritime rights, and firmly safeguard the peace and stability in the South China Sea.