China Continues Aggressive Actions in the South China Sea — Chinese coast guard and militia vessels have repeatedly used water cannons, ramming, and other tactics against Philippine boats, while dredging reefs (e.g., Antelope Reef) to build military outposts with runways and missile systems.

Escalation Despite International Rulings — Despite the 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling against China’s island-building and environmental damage, Beijing has persisted with reclamation, militarization, and overfishing, severely depleting fish stocks.

Philippines and Allies Push Back — The Philippines continues resupply missions, while the US has expanded joint exercises (including the largest-ever Balikatan) and defense cooperation under their mutual defense treaty. Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia also hold overlapping claims in the contested waters.

Chinese coast guard and maritime militia vessels have fired water cannons at Philippine boats, rammed patrol ships and dredged coral reefs into military outposts across the South China Sea in a pattern of activity that has continued through 2025 and into 2026, according to accounts from the Philippine coast guard, satellite imagery analysis and statements from Beijing itself.

On December 4, 2024, Chinese coast guard vessels backed by navy ships fired water cannons and sideswiped a Philippine........

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