The People's Liberation Army Southern Theater Command conducted routine air and naval patrols in the South China Sea from Monday to Friday, according to a spokesperson.

Zhai Shichen, spokesman for the PLA Southern Theater Command, said on Saturday that the Philippines had colluded with a country outside the region to disrupt the South China Sea by organizing so-called "bilateral air patrols", which had undermined regional peace and stability.

The forces of the Southern Theater Command will remain on high alert and resolutely defend national territorial sovereignty and maritime rights, Zhai said.