The Chinese military on Thursday conducted combat readiness patrols in the territorial waters and airspace of China's Huangyan Dao and the surrounding maritime and aerial areas.

The People's Liberation Army Southern Theater Command said in a statement that since the beginning of April, it has organized naval and air forces to step up patrols and vigilance in the waters and airspace surrounding the territorial waters of Huangyan Dao and resolutely countered all kinds of infringement and provocative actions.