Southern Theater Command Conducts Maritime-Air Joint Exercise and Training near Huangyan Island

南部战区位黄岩岛开展海空联合演训

PLA Daily (解放军报) 2 August 2026

Summary

The PLA Southern Theater Command conducted a maritime-air joint exercise around Huangyan Island on August 1, involving a naval formation including the destroyer Zhanjiang and amphibious dock landing ship Qilianshan, Southern Theater Command Air Force bombers operating from multiple airbases under airborne early warning aircraft control, and a forcible vessel-rescue drill using ship-borne helicopters and small boats. The exercise framing — invoking 实战化能力 (combat-realistic capabilities) and 体系制胜 (system-of-systems victory) — fits the pattern of PLA exercises timed to diplomatic friction, here explicitly attributed to 'individual countries' disrupting regional stability, almost certainly referencing the Philippines. What remains unknown is which bomber type flew and whether the naval formation's composition indicates a standing patrol rotation or a surge deployment for the exercise.

The Southern Theater Command conducted a named, date-specific maritime-air joint exercise explicitly at Huangyan Island (Scarborough Shoal), including bomber sorties from multiple airbases, naval vessel formations, and a forcible vessel-rescue drill—an operationally specific exercise at a contested feature that exceeds routine SCS patrol reporting and signals deliberate escalatory messaging directed at the Philippines or other claimants.

Translation

This is a necessary action in response to the current situation in the South China Sea and the disruption of regional peace and stability by individual countries within the region, aimed at testing and improving the forces' combat-realistic capabilities (实战化能力) to defend national territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests. PLA Daily, Guangzhou, August 1 — Reported by correspondent Chen Xiaojie: Today, the People's Liberation Army Southern Theater Command conducted maritime-air joint exercise and training in the territorial waters, territorial airspace, and surrounding maritime and air space of Huangyan Island, with a focus on combat-realistic subjects (实战化科目) including reconnaissance and early warning, deterrence patrol, maritime and air control, and joint strike. The exercise effectively tested the forces' maritime-air coordination, rapid support, and system-of-systems victory (体系制胜) capabilities.

At 8:00 a.m., a naval vessel formation composed of the PLA Navy's Zhanjiang ship, Qilianshan ship, and others commenced a maritime deterrence patrol, during which exercises were conducted in formation maneuvering, communications drills, and helicopter takeoff and landing operations.

"Mark time, take off!" A bomber formation took off from multiple airbases of the Southern Theater Command Air Force, flew to the airspace near Huangyan Island, and conducted aerial deterrence patrols under the command of an airborne early warning aircraft. During the exercise and training, maritime and air forces conducted simulated strikes against surface targets and air defense engagements, and carried out maritime-air confrontation drills.

At 2:30 p.m., the naval vessel formation conducted an exercise in the forcible rescue of "detained vessels." Task sub-units searched for surface targets by helicopter and ship-borne small boats; upon boarding the "detained vessels," they rapidly brought "unidentified armed personnel" under control, rescued "trapped crew members," and proceeded with treatment of "casualties" and evacuation of "hostages."

Throughout the exercise and training, all task forces maintained a high state of combat readiness at all times, prepared to respond to contingencies at any moment, and resolutely defended national territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.

Original Chinese

这是针对当前南海局势及个别域内国家破坏地区和平稳定的必要行动，旨在检验提升部队捍卫国家领土主权和海洋权益的实战化能力解放军报广州8月1日电记者陈晓杰报道：今天，中国人民解放军南部战区位黄岩岛领海、领空和周边海空域开展海空联合演训，重点演练侦察预警、威慑巡航、海空管制、联合突击等实战化科目，有效检验了部队海空协同、快速支援和体系制胜能力。上午8时，由海军湛江舰、祁连山舰等组成的舰艇编队开始进行海上威慑巡航。其间，开展了编队运动、通信操演、直升机起降等演练。 “计时，起飞！”轰炸机编队从南部战区空军多个机场起飞，飞往黄岩岛附近空域，在预警机指挥下，开展空中威慑巡航。演训期间，海空兵力开展了模拟对海突击、对空抗击，实施了海空对抗演练。下午2时30分，海军舰艇编队开展武力营救“被扣押船舶”演练。任务分队采取搭乘直升机和舰载小艇方式搜寻海面目标，登上“被扣押船舶”后，迅速控制“不明武装人员”，解救“被困船员”，并展开“伤员”救治和“人质”撤离。演训期间，各任务部队始终保持高度戒备，随时准备应对突发情况，坚决捍卫国家领土主权和海洋权益。