Beijing warns Manila of ‘powerful’ South China Sea toolbox ready for ‘head-on blow’

AI Summary

China warns the Philippines that it has a 'powerful' set of tools to respond to actions in the South China Sea, following Manila's efforts to assert claims over a disputed shoal. Recent joint Chinese naval and air drills near Scarborough Shoal reflect this escalating military posture in the contested maritime area.

Beijing had a “rich and powerful” toolkit to use against those who “make waves” in the South China Sea, China’s military mouthpiece warned on Sunday, following efforts by Manila to map out its claim to a disputed shoal. The PLA Daily warning came a day after the Chinese military mounted joint naval and air drills near Scarborough Shoal, a contested group of low-lying rocky islets known as Huangyan Island in China and Panatag Shoal in the Philippines. “We also issue a stern warning to forces...