Beijing drills water cannons and drones near disputed South China Sea shoals

China’s coastguard has carried out an exercise featuring water cannons and drones near two disputed reefs at the centre of its simmering South China Sea contention with the Philippines to prepare for “foreign infringement”, according to state media.

A China Coast Guard flotilla “recently” conducted “comprehensive maritime law-enforcement training” in the waters around Second Thomas Shoal and Sabina Shoal, according to state broadcaster CCTV, which did not specify dates.

The official television network stated that the drill had focused on foreign vessels “illegally” entering the waters around the two shoals, while covering surveillance, tracking, maritime traffic control and tactical manoeuvres by small boats.

It also included practising water cannon use, drone operations and optoelectronic evidence collection – a technique that uses optical and electronic sensors to detect and record evidence that may not be visible to the naked eye – according to the report.