China conducts joint naval and air exercise around disputed Scarborough Shoal

China’s military has conducted a joint naval and air training exercise around the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, it said on Sunday.

The training took place in the waters and airspace around the shoal, which China calls Huangyan Dao and the Philippines claims as Bajo de Masinloc, according to Reuters.

The People’s Liberation Army Southern Theater Command said in a statement on WeChat that the exercise was a “necessary response” to actions by “certain countries” it said had undermined regional peace and stability.

The command said the training “aims to test and enhance combat capabilities in safeguarding China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests”.

The statement, published on Sunday via the Southern Theater Command’s WeChat account, did not name the “certain countries” it accused of undermining regional peace and stability.

The Philippine embassy in Beijing did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the exercise.