West Philippine Sea (WPS)
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Free and Open Indo-Pacific/FOIP
Philippines, U.S. condemn China’s dangerous tactics at Second Thomas Shoal
FORUM Staff China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) warships and coast guard vessels blocked the Philippines from completing a routine resupply mission for troops aboard the BRP Sierra Madre in late September 2026. The Philippine Navy vessel, which is deliberately grounded, is a permanent sovereign extension of the nation at Second Thomas Shoal, also known as Ayungin Shoal, in the…
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Free and Open Indo-Pacific/FOIP
Australia-Philippines-U.S. maritime cooperation boosts interoperability
Australian Defence Department/Armed Forces of the Philippines Naval and air units from Australia, the Philippines and the United States conducted a maritime cooperative activity (MCA) within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in August 2026. It was the 19th MCA in the South China Sea, referred to as the West Philippine Sea by Manila, since April 2024, according to the…
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Conflicts - Tensions
China’s military drills do not alter Philippines’ legal claim to Scarborough Reef
FORUM Staff China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) naval and airborne exercises around the contested Scarborough Reef do not change the Philippines’ legal claim to the South China Sea location, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said in August 2026. “Military activities or demonstrations do not alter the legal status of maritime features or the Philippines’ maritime entitlements under international…
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Conflicts - Tensions
Drone boat approaches, videos Chinese destroyer in Philippines EEZ
Reuters A small uncrewed boat sailed close enough to a Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) guided-missile destroyer in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in June 2026 to capture what might be the first footage of its kind recorded by a private United States firm, the drone vessel’s manufacturer reported. The Seasats Lightfish video is striking for what it…
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Free and Open Indo-Pacific/FOIP
Philippines, partners counter China’s encroachments
Maria T. Reyes The Philippines’ maritime security strategy has developed into a sophisticated deterrence campaign, blending regular patrols with a focus on transparency to highlight external threats, primarily China’s territorial encroachment. Backed by satellite-tracking technology and a growing web of global partnerships, the archipelagic nation ensures that coercive activities in contested waters no longer go unchallenged or unseen. Against this…
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Free and Open Indo-Pacific/FOIP
Chinese warship locks firing radar on Philippine patrol vessel in South China Sea
Agence France-Presse A China People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy ship directed its fire control radar toward a Philippine vessel in the South China Sea in March 2026, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said, calling the behavior “alarming and provocative.” The radar provides precise targeting coordinates to a ship’s weapons systems. Beijing claims nearly all of the South China Sea…
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Free and Open Indo-Pacific/FOIP
South China Sea code must comply with international law, Philippine official says
Reuters A long-planned code of conduct outlining appropriate actions in the South China Sea must align with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), a top Philippine official said. The Philippines, which is chairing the 11-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2026, wants the code completed during its stewardship. “The UNCLOS issue is something…
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Free and Open Indo-Pacific/FOIP
China Coast Guard injures fishermen, damages boats near disputed South China Sea shoal, Philippines says
Reuters Three Philippine fishermen were wounded and two fishing vessels significantly damaged when China Coast Guard ships fired high-pressure water cannons and blocked almost two dozen fishing boats near contested Sabina Shoal in the South China Sea in December 2025, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said. A China Coast Guard vessel also cut the anchor lines of several Philippine boats,…
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Free and Open Indo-Pacific/FOIP
Philippines to focus on South China Sea code of conduct despite China’s obstinance
FORUM Staff As the Philippines prepares to lead the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2026, Manila’s leaders have vowed to press for a legally binding code of conduct (COC) between the 11 member nations and China. The agreement would codify rules for behavior in the economically important sea and reduce the risk of maritime clashes. Beijing’s posture, however,…
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Partnerships
Philippines debuts anti-ship missile batteries as Marine Corps marks 75 years
FORUM Staff The Philippine Marine Corps unveiled its first supersonic anti-ship missile battery in early November 2025, a milestone that dovetails with deepening defense collaboration. The BrahMos missile battery, highlighted in a video celebrating the Marine Corps’ 75th anniversary, is one of three the Philippines acquired from India. With a range of 290 kilometers, it is based in Western Luzon…
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