China Announces Joint Naval-Air Drills Near Scarborough Shoal; Philippines Disputes Claim as 'Not Credible'

China's PLA Southern Theater Command announced it conducted joint naval and air combat-readiness drills near Scarborough Shoal on August 1, 2026, involving bombers, guided-missile frigates, helicopters, and coast guard vessels, days after the Philippines presented its extended continental shelf claim off Palawan to the UN. The PLA called it "a necessary action taken in light of the current situation in the South China Sea and in response to the acts of certain countries within the region that have undermined regional peace and stability." On August 3, the Philippines' National Maritime Council disputed China's account, saying monitoring detected a Chinese vessel presence but that Philippine security agencies "detected no such activities" of an actual live military drill in the area, calling China's claim "not credible."