Naval and air forces under the Chinese People's Liberation Army Southern Theater Command carried out a combat readiness patrol in the South China Sea from Sunday to Monday, a spokesperson said on Tuesday.

Zhai Shichen, spokesperson for the Southern Theater Command, stated that the Philippines has colluded with a country outside the region to organize so-called "joint patrols", which have disrupted the situation in the South China Sea and undermined regional peace and stability.

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Forces of the theater command will resolutely safeguard national territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests and firmly uphold peace and stability in the region, Zhai said.