South China Sea - April 30, 2026 (Courtesy of Chinese People's Liberation Army Southern Theater Command - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Aerial shots of military vessels sailing
2. Various of military aircraft taking off
3. Pilot
4. Various of military aircraft flying over Huangyan Dao, nearby waters
UPSOUND (Chinese) commander (name not given):
"Unknown target, bearing 090, altitude 2,000 meters, approaching Huangyan Dao. Pili-01, respond."
5. Pilot giving fist signal
UPSOUND (Chinese) Pili-01:
"Pili-01 copies. Above Huangyan Dao, in position, ready."
6. Various of military aircraft flying over Huangyan Dao, nearby waters
7. Pilot
UPSOUND (Chinese) commander (name not given):
"Track target, stay alert."
8. Aircraft flying
UPSOUND (Chinese) pilot (name not given):
"Target locked. It can't escape."
9. Various of military aircraft flying over Huangyan Dao, nearby waters
UPSOUND (Chinese) pilots (name not given):
"Huangyan Dao is so beautiful today. All of our homeland is beautiful. Huangyan Dao will keep getting better."

Naval and air units of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Southern Theater Command (STC) conducted combat readiness patrols in the territorial sea and airspace of China's Huangyan Dao and its surrounding areas on Thursday.

Huangyan Dao is an inherent part of China's territory. The STC says it has enhanced readiness patrols in the territorial sea and airspace of Huangyan Dao and its surrounding areas since the beginning of April.

Such patrols serve as an effective countermeasure to prevent all sorts of rights-violation and provocative acts, said the STC, adding that their mission is to resolutely safeguard China's territorial sovereignty and uphold peace and stability in the South China Sea.

A video released Thursday by the STC shows naval and air units coordinate to locate and track a target.