Key facts
- Four Chinese warships reportedly confronted a Philippine Navy vessel near the disputed Scarborough Shoal.
- Philippine and Chinese navy personnel exchanged radio challenges.
- The incident occurred on the same day the Philippines concluded a joint military exercise with the US and allies.
- Scarborough Shoal is a disputed territory in the South China Sea claimed by both China and the Philippines.
Four Chinese warships reportedly confronted a Philippine Navy vessel near the disputed Scarborough Shoal on Saturday, engaging in radio exchanges urging each other to leave the area. The incident occurred on the same day the Philippines concluded its nearly three-month joint military exercise, Salaknib 2026, which involved over 7,000 troops from the Philippines, the United States, Japan, New Zealand, and Australia.
The Philippine Navy’s frigate BRP Diego Silang encountered the Chinese vessels after an earlier meeting with one Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) naval vessel that morning. Footage showed personnel from both navies issuing radio challenges.
Scarborough Shoal, a coral reef formation, is located approximately 230 kilometers off the Philippine coast and is a focal point of the long-standing territorial dispute between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea. Beijing has not yet commented on the reported stand-off.
