China-Philippines relations

Tensions over Scarborough Shoal have increased markedly since the middle of last year, when Beijing and Manila reached an "understanding" over another disputed shoal.

2025 is shaping up as another year of friction and contention in disputed parts of the South China Sea.

China has condemned Manila's planned acquisition, which it says poses a "substantial threat to regional peace and security."

The confrontations at Scarborough and Sabina shoals indicate that Beijing has no intention of easing off on its pressure campaign in disputed waters.

The move was a direct response to the Philippines' enactment of two new laws aimed at strengthening the country's own maritime claims.

From its base in Luzon, the Typhon land-based missile system has the ability to strike targets in mainland China.

The withdrawal of the PCG's flagship has prompted some to claim that Beijing has forced Manila to back down at Sabina Shoal.

The incident comes a week after a similar encounter near the shoal, which lies 140 kilometers off the coast of the Philippines' westernmost island, Palawan.

The clash suggests that Beijing's pressure campaign, previously focused on Second Thomas Shoal, is moving to other parts of the Spratly Islands.

An analysis of the Philippines’ recent resupply mission to Second Thomas Shoal suggests that the understanding can, in fact, satisfy both sides’ red lines.

Manila said that “no untoward incidents" took place during Saturday's mission to Second Thomas Shoal, but the two sides continue to trade public barbs.

Despite pledging to de-escalate tensions at Second Thomas Shoal, Beijing and Manila continue to exchange rhetorical fire.

The two sides pledged this week to de-escalate the situation after a June 17 clash at a disputed shoal in the Spratly Islands.

The "frank and constructive discussions” came two weeks after a major clash close to Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands.

Will Manila request greater U.S. assistance in its ongoing stand-off with China at Second Thomas Shoal?

The country's top diplomat says that the country will pursue "confidence building measures," but is "not blind" to recent incidents in the South China Sea.

The Philippine military has also released video footage of Monday's incident in the South China Sea, which injured eight Filipino sailors, one seriously.

The diplomatic charade masks the key question: Would China refrain from seizing Second Thomas Shoal if the Philippines was forced to withdraw?

Public attitudes toward China in the Philippines have dipped considerably as tensions have increased in the South China Sea.

A Senate Committee is investigating the Chinese Embassy’s alleged recording of a phone call between Carlos and a Chinese military attaché in January.

About 100 Filipinos are sailing to Scarborough Shoal to assert the Philippines' sovereignty, while being trailed by at least two Chinese ships.

Earlier this week, two Philippine vessels were damaged in the latest confrontation with China Coast Guard patrol boats in the South China Sea.

The incident near Chinese-occupied Scarborough Shoal caused damage to two vessels, the Philippine government said.

Earlier this month, a Chinese embassy spokesperson said that the two nations had reached a "common understanding" on the dispute.