Ankara: China on Saturday said that it carried out coast guard patrols around the Scarborough Shoal, where it has a sovereignty dispute with the Philippines in the South China Sea. The Chinese Coast Guard announced the continuation of its law enforcement activities in these territorial waters in early November, emphasizing its commitment to "resolutely safeguarding the country's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests." According to Anadolu Agency, tensions between Beijing and Manila over disputed areas of the South China Sea have further escalated in recent months. The ongoing territorial sovereignty claims over various islands and smaller features in the region have been a persistent source of conflict. The South China Sea serves as a crucial conduit for global shipping, bordered by Brunei, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. The vast expanse, covering over 3.5 million square kilometers, facilitates nearly one-third of the worl d's shipping, with an estimated $11.3 billion worth of trade passing through annually, as per the Center for Strategic and International Studies.