BEIJING: China’s coast guard held a National Day flag-raising ceremony on a ship in the waters off the disputed Scarborough Shoal, vowing to “stand guard” over the atoll, a major flashpoint for diplomatic flare-ups and maritime clashes with the Philippines.
Both countries claim the triangular feature in the busy waterway of the South China Sea, but it is effectively under Beijing’s control. In September, China infuriated Manila with a plan to set up a “national” nature reserve there.
Coast Guard officers standing in formation on the rear deck of the patrol vessel Dahao (3304) saluted as the Chinese flag was raised, a video showed in a Coast Guard posting on Wednesday on Douyin, known as TikTok outside China.
“We stand guard over these blue waters, assuring the nation of our unwavering commitment,” the video subtitles read.
CCG vessel 3304 had been previously challenged by the Philippine Coast Guard for its “illegal presence” at the shoal, which China calls Huangyan Island while in the Philippines it is known as the Panatag Shoal.
The Philippine Coast Guard did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on Wednesday.
In 2012 China seized control of the shoal after a standoff with the Philippines and has since kept a deployment of coast guard and fishing trawlers there.
A landmark ruling on South China Sea issues by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016 went in favor of Manila but deciding sovereignty over the shoal was not within the scope of the decision.
The ruling held that Beijing’s blockade there violated international law as it was a traditional fishing ground for several countries, including the Philippines and Vietnam.
Flare-ups near the shoal in recent years have included the use of water cannon, boat-ramming and maneuvers by China’s coast guard that the Philippines considers dangerously close, while jets have shadowed Philippine aircraft over it.
Both sides accuse each other of provocation and trespassing, though none of the clashes have escalated into armed conflict.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Chinese Coast Guard said it had stepped up law enforcement inspections around Scarborough Shoal since September to expel the “illegal” entry of vessels.
The Southern Theatre Command of the People’s Liberation Army, in a separate statement, said naval and air forces had also strengthened patrols around the shoal since last month to respond to “infringement provocations.”
China holds National Day ceremony in waters off atoll claimed by Philippines
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China holds National Day ceremony in waters off atoll claimed by Philippines
- Both countries claim the triangular feature in the busy waterway of the South China Sea, but it is effectively under Beijing’s control
- Coast Guard officers standing in formation on the rear deck of the patrol vessel Dahao (3304) saluted as the Chinese flag was raised
Lufthansa adds more flights to Asia, Africa as Middle East war reshapes air travel
- Airlines across Europe have been redirecting capacity after suspending services in the Middle East
- Lufthansa said the move also helps meet demand on long-haul routes that Middle Eastern carriers cannot currently serve
LONDON: Lufthansa said on Friday it was shifting capacity from 10 canceled Middle Eastern destinations to routes such as Singapore and Bangkok as it contends with disruption from the US-Israeli war on Iran.
Airlines across Europe, including budget carrier Wizz Air , have been redirecting capacity after suspending services in the Middle East.
Lufthansa said the move also helps meet demand on long-haul routes that Middle Eastern carriers cannot currently serve.
Airline stocks have slumped this week as US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran — and retaliatory strikes by Iran across the Middle East — have disrupted long-haul flights and sent oil prices soaring.
“The war in the Middle East proves once again how exposed air traffic is and how vulnerable it remains,” Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr said in a statement. He added the outlook was uncertain, particularly for jet fuel costs.
The schedule changes came as the German group reported better-than-expected 2025 results, saying stricter financial management and fleet renewal had helped contain costs and lift profits. Its shares rose as much as 4 percent, before reversing to trade down 1.2 percent at 1246 GMT.
The company said demand on routes to and from Asia and Africa had risen strongly since the conflict began on Saturday, and it would stick with its focus on expanding long-haul services. Spohr said new flights to Asia would launch in days.
Lufthansa did say how many services it had canceled because of the conflict.
While carriers face costs for rescheduling and rerouting, the biggest impact for those outside the Middle East is expected from surging fuel prices. Brent crude futures have jumped more than 20 percent this week.
Spohr said Lufthansa was well hedged in the short term. The group hedges fuel up to 24 months ahead and was 85 percent hedged as of December 31, according to its annual report.
RESILIENCE
European carriers, including Lufthansa, benefited from slightly lower fuel bills in 2025. Lufthansa’s fuel bill fell 7 percent, helping support earnings as passenger demand stayed firm.
“Last year we were able to significantly increase the Group’s operating profit and achieved the highest revenue in our history. Our results demonstrate the resilience and stability of the Group,” Spohr said.
Lufthansa reported an adjusted operating profit of 2 billion euros ($2.3 billion), compared with 1.9 billion euros forecast in a company-compiled analyst poll and up from 1.6 billion euros in 2024. The group also posted an operating margin of 4.9 percent, up from 4.4 percent a year earlier.
Lufthansa aims to lift operating margins to 8 percent-10 percent between 2028 and 2030 from 4.4 percent in 2024, but strikes by workers, including the most recent on February 12, have made it harder to boost profitability.
Bernstein analyst Alex Irving said ongoing weakness in the passenger airline segment persisted, but that strong performances in Cargo and Lufthansa Technik helped lift profits.
The carrier said the outlook for 2026 was unclear due to geopolitical uncertainty. It projected capacity growth of 4 percent, alongside increased revenue and profit margin.
