🛳️ Allied Warships Flex Together in the South China Sea
This week, Philippine naval forces joined allied warships — including units from the U.S., Japan, Canada, and France — in surface-warfare drills in the contested waters of the South China Sea. The exercises covered coordinated manoeuvres, anti-surface tactics and maritime interoperability, sending a clear message of collective resolve under Manila’s leadership.
📝 Manila Files 47 Diplomatic Protests Against China So Far in 2025
According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Philippines has lodged 47 formal diplomatic protests against China this year — part of a broader tally of 245 protests since 2022. The protests cite incidents ranging from maritime harassment to territorial incursions, underscoring Manila’s adoption of a transparency-and-accountability strategy.
🧭 Beijing Calls Philippine Claims “Unrealistic Illusions”
In a pointed rebuke, a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of National Defense urged the Philippines to abandon what it described as “self-staged farces” in the South China Sea and to give up its “unrealistic illusions” over territorial claims. The remarks came amid rising tensions over the Spratly islands and Scarborough Shoal.