China Surges Amphibious Group and H-6K Bombers to Scarborough Shoal in Show of Force

China surged an amphibious task group and bombers equipped for maritime strike to Scarborough Shoal over the weekend of August 1-3, 2026, in a display of power projection roughly 120 nautical miles off the Philippines. The deployed force included a Type 052D-class guided-missile destroyer, a Type 071-class landing platform dock with its embarked landing craft and a Z-20 helicopter, a Type 054A-class frigate, and a Type 056A-class corvette. In the air, the PLA sortied at least two H-6K bombers armed with supersonic YJ-12 anti-ship cruise missiles. The PLA Southern Theater Command said the drills were designed to "safeguard China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests." It was the second Chinese show of force near the shoal in three days, following the disputed August 1 drill announcement, and came amid the dispute over the Philippines' extended continental shelf claim and new Scarborough Shoal nature-reserve fishing restrictions.