Tensions Rise in South China Sea Amid US-Philippines Drills and Filipino Civilian Flotillas

Escalating Tensions in the South China Sea: Philippines Asserts ... Reclamation Activities

The Philippines has deployed a warship and partnered with the US to counter alleged Chinese reclamation activities in the South China Sea, aiming to address escalating tensions. Filipino activists and fishermen also sailed to the Scarborough Shoal to assert Manila's sovereignty, based on international law, while avoiding confrontation. China's coastguard responded by conducting enforcement activities, emphasizing its sovereignty over the disputed area. Amid concerns of interference from China, the Philippine Navy is escorting fishermen to Scarborough Shoal, maintaining close contact with the civilian fleet. Additionally, a Chinese think tank warns that Vietnam's land reclamation in the Spratly Islands may risk expanding disputes in the region.