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

The STC said that Huangyan Dao is an inherent part of China's territory and it has enhanced readiness patrols around Huangyan Dao since June.

"Such patrols serve as an effective countermeasure to cope with all sorts of rights-violation and provocative acts," it said. "They are meant to resolutely safeguard China's territorial sovereignty and uphold peace and stability in the South China Sea."