West Philippine Sea - Atin Ito

Malacañang on Monday endorsed Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.'s call for government officials who side with China on West Philippine Sea issues to consider resigning, with Palace Press Officer Claire Castro saying the Marcos administration sees "nothing wrong" with his position. "It is an expression of love for our country," Castro said at a briefing.

Castro described as "very alarming" Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte's criticism of Teodoro, after the lawmaker accused the defense chief of "demonizing China" and conducting a loyalty test. "A Filipino's heart should belong only to the Philippines," Castro said, adding it was "highly questionable" for Duterte to appear to question his own loyalty to the country.

Asked about officials echoing China's narrative on the disputed sea, Castro challenged them to "come out openly so we can see who truly loves the Philippines." The Palace stressed it distinguishes between maintaining business ties with China and defending Philippine sovereign interests, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reports.

The People's Liberation Army held joint naval and air exercises near Scarborough Shoal on Saturday, the South China Morning Post reports. The PLA Southern Theatre Command said the drills were a response to "acts of certain countries within the region that have undermined regional peace and stability," in an apparent reference to the Philippines.

Beijing has accused the Philippines of making an "illegal" attempt to extend its seabed rights off Palawan and advance claims to the reef. The PLA said the training "aims to test and enhance the forces' real combat capabilities to safeguard China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests."

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said the Department of National Defense is bolstering the Philippines' deterrent capability in the West Philippine Sea to complement diplomatic protests by the Department of Foreign Affairs, allowing foreign policy to be pursued "from a position of strength."

"How can you deal without some backbone?" Teodoro said, emphasizing the need for greater deterrence so the President can lead foreign policy "on a basis of closer parity." He said the DND and DFA have different mandates but share the same goals: to "stop the incursions" and "reassert control."

Teodoro stressed that deterrence efforts are intended to prevent conflict rather than provoke it. "That is the number one goal — to avoid conflict without compromising your territorial integrity and sovereignty, and that is deterrence," he said. As of October 2025, the government had filed more than 200 diplomatic protests against China, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reports.

New images circulating since mid-July appear to show a fifth prototype of China's J-36 sixth-generation fighter jet, according to aviation analysts, suggesting the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation is rapidly refining the design through successive flight-test variants.

The footage shows changes to the aircraft's nose, air intakes, engine nozzles and landing gear compared with earlier sightings. Andreas Rupprecht, an aviation analyst specialising in China's air force, said structural differences between examples made it unlikely they showed a single aircraft being repeatedly modified, though he cautioned that assessment remained difficult. The images emerged about a month after China released its first official footage of a sixth-generation fighter prototype, Gabriel Dominguez reports for the South China Morning Post.

The National Maritime Council on Thursday rejected statements by China's ambassador regarding Philippine rotation and resupply operations at Second Thomas Shoal, saying they misrepresent the country's sovereign rights and the scope of a provisional arrangement governing the missions.

"It is not an instrument that grants any country the authority to approve, regulate, inspect or restrict Philippine activities at Ayungin Shoal," the council said in a statement, using the Philippine name for the shoal. The council said the arrangement does not alter the legal status of the feature or diminish the Philippines' sovereign rights, which it said lie within the country's exclusive economic zone under international law and a 2016 South China Sea arbitral award.

The council also rejected attempts to use the provisional understanding to justify coercive actions against Philippine personnel. It urged China to refrain from statements and actions that could undermine peace and stability in the region, saying constructive dialogue should be anchored on mutual respect and adherence to international law. The Chinese Embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to requests for comment, BusinessWorld reports.

China's UN mission on Thursday accused the Philippines of "flagrantly infringing" on its sovereignty after Manila presented a bid to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf for extended seabed rights in the South China Sea this week. Beijing said the filing violated Chinese sovereignty and urged the 21-member commission not to consider it, and said Manila was using the submission "as a pretext to hype up" the 2016 South China Sea arbitral award that struck down China's expansive maritime claims.

Beijing has dismissed that ruling as "illegal, null and void". Malaysia's UN mission also rejected the Philippine submission, citing overlapping maritime claims. China claims sovereignty over almost all the islands and rock features in the South China Sea, with territorial claims that overlap those of the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei, Shi Jiangtao reports for the South China Morning Post.

A California-based drone maker, Seasats, says its Lightfish autonomous vessel captured footage of a Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy Type 052D destroyer operating 65 miles northwest of Luzon Island on June 16, Reuters reports. The company shared the video with Reuters, which independently verified its authenticity by matching the vessel's deck layout and superstructure to archive imagery and confirming the location and date.

The footage underscores how a $240,000 drone can approach a billion-dollar warship. "We're able to go out and film and get up close and record all this data off of a Chinese ship," said Seasats CEO Mike Flanigan.

China's foreign ministry defended its military activities as lawful, urging "relevant parties to avoid approaching Chinese naval vessels at close range, as this could lead to accidental incidents." The Philippine embassy said it would "remind all parties to avoid actions that would escalate tensions, especially if found trespassing through the Philippines' Exclusive Economic Zone." RAPPLER reports.

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said on Wednesday that no candidate in the 2028 presidential election could succeed by backing China, citing a video by Chinese state media that depicted Filipinos as monkeys.

"I don't think anybody can tout a pro-China line and seek the mandate of the people when its state-owned media depicted Filipinos as monkeys," Teodoro said during a roundtable discussion with the Philippine Daily Inquirer. The video was released by China Daily to mark the 10th anniversary of the Philippines' Arbitral Award, which affirmed its claim over the West Philippine Sea.

Teodoro, the defense minister, did not rule out running for higher office in 2028 but said it was "not right" to make such a decision now. He said his focus was on accelerating the country's "Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept" and strengthening alliances based on international law.

Teodoro says ‘not viable’ to be pro-China candidate in 2028 polls Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said that it would not be viable for a candidate in the 2028 elections to show support for China. Philippine Daily Inquirer

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Wednesday urged greater scrutiny of China-owned academic institutions operating in the Philippines, citing national security concerns over cultural and educational exchange programs.

Teodoro's warning follows a report by SeaLight, a maritime transparency initiative, showing that China's Jinan University — which has asserted that Batanes belongs to China — is the largest training destination for Chinese-language teachers working in Philippine schools. "The strongest evidence that there is a problem with this exchange is that it has produced the very institution that is spreading fake news," Teodoro said at Kapihan sa Manila Bay.

Teodoro stressed he is not opposed to exchanges with China but said foreign institutions should undergo proper assessment before agencies recommend approval of exchange programs. "When we do engage, we should be aware that there may be ulterior motives," he said, Inquirer Global Nation reports.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines said Tuesday it spotted 26 Chinese naval and coast guard ships in four key features of the West Philippine Sea from July 21 to 26, according to a statement by Navy reservist Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, the AFP's WPS spokesperson.

Seven coast guard vessels and two People's Liberation Army Navy ships were spotted at Ayungin Shoal; 13 coast guard ships at Bajo de Masinloc; one coast guard vessel at Escoda Shoal; and one coast guard and two PLAN ships near Pag-asa Islands. The count is slightly higher than the 24 vessels the AFP reported during its previous monitoring period of July 7-13.

Trinidad said the monitoring procedure forms part of the AFP's maritime domain awareness efforts and enables "timely detection, identification, and assessment of vessels operating within Philippine waters." SunStar reports.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources has launched ATIN WPS (Alliance of Truthful Information and Narratives on the West Philippine Sea), a program enlisting Filipino fishermen to counter misinformation about the country's maritime claims. The initiative, unveiled at a ceremony in Zambales on July 28 that drew over 80 fisherfolk leaders and officials from the Philippine Coast Guard and National Security Council, provides training on the legal foundations of the Philippines' claims and the 2016 Arbitral Award that favored the country against China.

BFAR National Director Elizer S. Salilig said the program recognizes fisherfolk as "the true frontline guardians of our sea" and aims to equip them as "credible voices of truth" in their communities. National Security Council Director Romeo Racadio said protecting "the truth" through fact-based narratives was as vital to national interests as defending the country's maritime territory.

The training covered maritime law, the history of Philippine claims, responsible conduct at sea, and techniques for identifying misinformation in coastal communities. The program is supported by the US Embassy Manila's Fish Right Project, BusinessWorld reports.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources has established the Alliance of Fisherfolk for Truthful Information and Narratives on the West Philippine Sea (ATIN WPS), training fisherfolk to counter false information about the contested waters, GMA News reports.

Participants receive technical training on the legal and historical background of the West Philippine Sea, the 2016 international arbitral award favoring the Philippines, maritime entitlements, and ways to combat misinformation. The initiative aims to equip fisherfolk—those most directly affected by developments in the waters—to disseminate accurate information in their communities.

The National Security Council and the US Embassy's Fish Right Project have backed the alliance, which was launched following an incident at Ayungin Shoal where two Philippine Navy personnel were injured during a confrontation with the China Coast Guard, GMA News Online / News reports.

Gen. Antonio Nafarrete, the newly appointed AFP chief of staff, conferred the Wounded Personnel Medal on two Philippine Navy personnel wounded in a July 20 clash with China Coast Guard vessels near Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea. The two sailors, serving as security personnel aboard the BRP Sierra Madre, sustained injuries when CCG personnel aboard an inflatable boat struck them with batons despite being in waters claimed by the Philippines, according to video footage from the incident.

Nafarrete visited the wounded sailors at Camp Ricarte Station Hospital on July 25 and expressed the AFP's gratitude, assuring them of full support for their recovery. One sailor suffered a head injury; the other injured his right hand. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier visited the two personnel and awarded them the Order of Lapu-Lapu, along with P100,000 each in special financial assistance, GMA News Online / News reports.

Foreign Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro raised Manila's grievances against China during a minister-level meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on July 22, days after a Filipino soldier was injured in a confrontation with China Coast Guard personnel at Ayungin Shoal.

On June 20, CCG personnel struck a soldier stationed at the BRP Sierra Madre with a long pole, causing a head wound. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. summoned Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan the following day; Jing described the meeting as "constructive" and said both sides had expressed their "true feelings." On July 23, the Philippine Coast Guard said Chinese counterparts used water cannons and "dangerous maneuvers" against Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources vessels near Scarborough Shoal, RAPPLER reports.

China has reclaimed about 602 hectares of land at Antelope Reef in the Paracel Islands, marking its first significant artificial island-building in the South China Sea since 2017, according to the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI). The reef, located 300 kilometres from China's Hainan province, began major dredging in October and preliminary construction this year.

If construction continues at the observed pace, Antelope Reef will become China's largest feature in the Paracels and potentially the entire South China Sea, the AMTI said, surpassing Woody Island's 335 hectares and possibly equalling Mischief Reef in the Spratlys. Vietnam's foreign ministry spokesperson protested the reclamation as "completely illegal and invalid", while China said the Paracel Islands are its "inherent" territory and the work aims to improve living conditions there.

The development extends Chinese military capabilities closer to Vietnam and provides additional capacity for naval and air assets in the northern South China Sea, the AMTI said, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reports.

The Department of Foreign Affairs denies Chinese claims that a confidential 2024 agreement covering Ayungin Shoal restricts Philippine construction there, Rappler reports. The denial comes after Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan cited the Provisional Understanding as limiting Manila's activities on the shoal.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations and China are aiming to conclude negotiations on a Code of Conduct for the South China Sea by the end of the year, according to reporting from the Philippines. The push marks the strongest effort in years to finalize an agreement intended to manage tensions in the disputed waterway.

The article notes that experts see significant hurdles ahead, though the source material does not detail what those obstacles are, Inquirer Global Nation reports.

Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela rejected Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan's claim that Philippine activities were triggering tensions in the West Philippine Sea. Tarriela stated, 'If there’s one country that’s driving tension not just in the West Philippine Sea, but the entire South China Sea, that will be the Chinese government.' He also questioned recent developments involving China, including a series of incidents and alleged propaganda efforts, suggesting they might be part of a coordinated script. The PCG official emphasized continued diplomatic engagement with China despite ongoing confrontations, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reports.

Former Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio stated that China cannot prevent the Philippines from constructing structures at Ayungin Shoal. Carpio said the shoal is part of the country's exclusive economic zone under the 2016 South China Sea arbitral ruling, asserting the Philippines' right to erect artificial structures without seeking permission from any state.

Carpio also questioned the legality of any reported arrangement that would require prior notification or consultation with China before sending vessels to Ayungin Shoal or constructing structures there. He noted that the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has not publicly released the text of the provisional agreement with China, adding that such an agreement could undermine the country's freedom of navigation and sovereign rights under UNCLOS and the 2016 arbitral ruling.

In a statement, Carpio said the DFA was 'now in a bind' because China had publicly disclosed that Manila supposedly agreed not to resupply the BRP Sierra Madre without prior notice and consultation and not to build on Ayungin Shoal, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reports.

A China Coast Guard vessel that stayed inside Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal for nearly a week has departed following an incident with the Philippine Navy, according to SeaLight. The close approach of the Chinese vessel reportedly left a Filipino sailor injured when he was struck on the head while defending the outpost. The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea rejected China's claim that it authorized the medical evacuation, stating that Chinese personnel conducted dangerous blocking maneuvers during the operation, Franco Jose C. Baroña reports for The Manila Times.

A recent OCTA Research survey shows that 64% of Filipinos distrust China, down three points from the first quarter of 2026. The poll was conducted during a week marking the 10th anniversary of the arbitral ruling in the West Philippine Sea dispute. President Ferdinand Marcos met with Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan to discuss an incident where Philippine Navy personnel were assaulted by members of the China Coast Guard in Ayungin Shoal, Janvic Mateo reports for the Philippine Star.