China accused a US Navy warship of illegally entering disputed waters near Xianbin Jiao, as Beijing calls it, and sent naval forces to monitor it, according to the Jerusalem Post. The China Coast Guard says it permitted and monitored a Philippine resupply to a grounded vessel at Ren'ai Jiao, known as Second Thomas Shoal.
Geopolitics
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio began a visit to India on Tuesday with a trade deal and Russian oil on the agenda, according to Reuters. The Hindu reports that he said Washington will discuss refining Venezuelan crude with Reliance, and the South China Morning Post reports that he confirmed Quad leaders will meet in Manila next month for their first summit in two years.
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The Philippines summoned China's ambassador Jing Quan over comments that China could "easily win" a war between the two countries. According to the South China Morning Post, he denied making threats, while China's foreign ministry, as reported by Global Times, opposed what it called malicious attempts by certain Philippine individuals to hype up China-related issues.
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China's ambassador to the Philippines said Beijing could "easily win" should it use force in the region but chooses peace, according to the South China Morning Post. Manila called the remarks a "thinly veiled threat", while the Chinese defense ministry said, per Global Times, that a certain Philippine politician damages ties out of selfish interests.
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The International Criminal Court has found former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte fit to stand trial for crimes against humanity. According to the court, the decision rests on the findings of independent experts, who found he can understand the charges and follow the proceedings.
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The Philippines accuses the Chinese coast guard of blocking a law enforcement mission near Thitu, according to Reuters on Sunday. Further details were not available in the source material.
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China has issued ecological assessment reports on nine disputed South China Sea features amid an escalating row with Washington over Beijing's establishment of a national nature reserve, the South China Morning Post reports. The Philippine defence chief rejected Chinese criticism and called the response a 'squid tactic', while China's embassy dismissed claims by Teodoro about Chinese workers as baseless.
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Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr said on Friday that talks with China on joint oil and gas exploration had moved forward, signalling hopes of a deal before he leaves office in mid-2028. China's defence ministry said it would continue rights-protection and law-enforcement operations in waters adjacent to Ren'ai Jiao, and Beijing rejected the Philippine defence chief's accusation of extortion.
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Philippine Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio faced a criminal charge on Tuesday over an alleged death threat against President Marcos, the South China Morning Post reports. The allegation is a key part of the case against her at her ongoing impeachment.
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Typhoon Dolphin came ashore in Zhejiang on Sunday evening with winds of 151 km/h, after more than a million people had been moved to safety. It then pushed north and inland.
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The US State Department has accused China of using a declared 'national nature reserve' at Scarborough Shoal to keep Filipino fishermen from their traditional fishing ground. It said on Saturday it rejects Beijing's attempts to enforce it.
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China's defence ministry has promised firm countermeasures against what it calls Philippine provocations at Huangyan Dao, the Chinese name for Scarborough Shoal, the Global Times reported on Friday. The ministry did not specify what measures it intends to take.
Geopolitics
The China Coast Guard conducted comprehensive exercises in the waters of Huangyan Dao, including simulated deployment of water cannon, Global Times reported, adding that the Philippine presidential palace has backed calls for 'pro-China' officials to resign. Analysts told the South China Morning Post that Manila's push for seabed rights could complicate its work as this year's Asean chair on a South China Sea code of conduct.
Geopolitics
China's army and coast guard held exercises around Huangyan Dao (Scarborough Shoal) and Beijing issued new reserve rules to tighten its control over the disputed reef. On Sunday the Chinese military's newspaper warned that Beijing has a 'rich and powerful' toolkit ready for a 'head-on blow' against those who 'make waves' in the South China Sea, after Philippine efforts to map its claim.
Geopolitics
The Chinese military and coast guard held joint naval and air drills on Saturday near Scarborough Shoal, which Beijing calls Huangyan Dao, days after China criticised a Philippine territorial move, the South China Morning Post reported. Global Times said the exercises included interdiction of forced entry and forced towing and involved an H-6K bomber carrying YJ-12 supersonic anti-ship missiles, while The Hindu reported that China issued new rules asserting control over the disputed shoal.
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China said it firmly rejects and never accepts the Philippines' delimitation of so-called territorial sea baselines around Huangyan Dao, the feature known as Scarborough Shoal, and the People's Liberation Army held joint maritime and air drills around it in response to what state media called moves that undermine peace and stability. The South China Morning Post reported that Chinese and Philippine crews fought with oars and batons beside the BRP Sierra Madre on 20 July, and argued that Beijing and Manila need their arrangements in writing.
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The Chinese coast guard carried out what it called law-enforcement patrols in the territorial sea around Huangyan Dao, known as Scarborough Shoal, while the military deployed a Type 054B frigate and JL-10 jets to warn away Philippine aircraft and vessels, Global Times reported on Thursday. China's defence ministry said the armed forces would resolutely counter any infringement or provocation, and the foreign ministry urged others to avoid dangerous approaches to Chinese naval vessels after drone footage circulated.
Geopolitics
The Philippines, Japan and the United States conducted a joint exercise in the South China Sea, according to Reuters and Bloomberg. China's PLA Southern Theater Command accused Manila of stirring up trouble and said it carried out its own routine patrols in the area.
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