China patrols Scarborough Shoal after Philippines warns of threat

A People's Liberation Army Navy troop stands on the deck of navy ship during an open day of Stonecutters Island naval base, in Hong Kong, China, on June 30, 2019. (Photo: Reuters)

BEIJING - China's military and coast guard said they carried out patrols near Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea on Sunday, a day after the Philippine defence minister said Manila remained under threat from Beijing despite a recent easing in US-China tensions.

Scarborough Shoal is one of ​Asia's most contested maritime features ⁠and has become a frequent flashpoint between China and the Philippines over sovereignty and fishing rights.