August 1, 2026 should have been an ordinary day marking the Army Day commemoration, yet the South China Sea was roiled by major developments. The Southern Theater Command of the People’s Liberation Army of China launched joint maritime-air drills in the territorial sea, airspace and adjacent waters and airspace of Huangyan Dao, focusing on combat-oriented tasks such as reconnaissance and early warning, deterrence patrols, maritime-air traffic control, and joint assault operations. China Coast Guard was equally active the same day, conducting law enforcement exercises in waters off Huangyan Dao in…
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