South China Sea

Leaders at the 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu agreed to advance a shared power grid and a regional maritime center, though details remain pending, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on May 8.

May 03, 2026 በAI የተዘገበ

The Philippine Coast Guard announced it will deploy vessels and aircraft to challenge and drive away Chinese research ships conducting unlawful marine scientific research in the West Philippine Sea. Four Chinese vessels were detected operating in Philippine waters without government consent. The PCG emphasized that foreign marine scientific research requires prior government authorization.

Following bilateral meetings in Quanzhou on March 27-28, the Philippines and China advanced practical measures in the South China Sea, including initial exchanges on oil and gas exploration, amid efforts to manage disputes and boost confidence-building. The talks, previewed amid global energy concerns, pave the way for higher-level discussions later this year.

March 29, 2026 በAI የተዘገበ

China and the Philippines resumed high-level dialogue on Saturday in Quanzhou, Fujian province, through the 11th meeting of the South China Sea bilateral consultation mechanism and the 24th round of China-Philippines Foreign Ministry Consultations. Vice-Foreign Minister Sun Weidong and Philippine Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Policy Leo M. Herrera-Lim co-chaired the talks, with Beijing urging Manila to match words with actions.

The Department of Foreign Affairs defended its deal with China on resupply missions to Ayungin Shoal on Wednesday, March 4. The DFA stated that the Philippines does not need to seek permission for these missions and that Chinese boarding of Philippine vessels is not allowed. This deal has governed 13 routine rotation and resupply missions to the BRP Sierra Madre since July 2024.

February 18, 2026 በAI የተዘገበ

In a Lunar New Year post, the Chinese coastguard has given a rare look at the role of uncrewed aircraft in training and operations near the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea. The post features drone operator Qiu Canhui, who described using his rest time to study footage and improve drone stability during stand-offs with foreign vessels.