Two days after a China Coast Guard (CCG) and Chinese Navy ship collided while trying to chase a Philippine Coast Guard ship near Scarborough Shoal (Bajo de Masinloc), two US Navy warships also passed through the area, the PCG confirms. Commodore Jay Tarriela tells media the USS Higgins and USS Cincinnati were monitored sailing some 30 nautical miles to the shoal.

Earlier, the Chinese Communist Party-affiliated Global Times reported the Higgins' presence and said the People's Liberation Army-Navy's "Southern Theater Command mobilized forces to monitor, issue warnings and expel the vessel in accordance with laws and regulations."

Scarborough Shoal is a high-tide elevation (HTE) in the West Philippine Sea. Since it's an HTE, it generates its own 12-nautical mile territorial sea. While it's claimed by both the Philippines and China, Beijing has controlled access to the shoal's entrance since 2012.

Meanwhile, the PCG also deployed a PCG Caravan aircraft to conduct a Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) flight over the Bajo De Masinloc (BDM) area, says Commodore Jay Tarriela.

In a release to media, the PCG said it "observed four China Coast Guard vessels—5303, 4202, 3502, and 5306—alongside six Chinese Maritime Militia boats situated outside the shoal area. Notably, the damaged CCG-3104, which was involved in a collision with the PLA Navy, is no longer in the BDM vicinity."

PCG also says that China's J15 fighter aircraft "unsafely tracked the PCG Caravan aircraft for over 20 minutes, maintaining a lateral distance of only 500 feet and passing directly overhead at just 200 feet."

The Philippines' DFA says it is "aware of the FONOPS conducted by US warships in the vicinity waters of Bajo de Masinloc, which is a longstanding and integral part of Philippine territory."

Adds: "It should be pointed out that UNCLOS provides certain rights and freedoms of transit — such as innocent passage, freedom of navigation and archipelagic sea lanes passage — in the Philippines’ archipelagic waters, territorial sea and exclusive economic zone. Notification is not required by the Philippines for foreign vessels to exercise these freedoms in Philippine maritime zones, in accordance with international law, particularly the 1982 UNCLOS."

Thanks to Bea and Rappler for these updates.

DFA Sec Tess Lazaro (vua Palace press officer Usec Castro)


The PHL bears no responsibility for the collision between the PLAN vessel and the CCG vessel in Bajo de Masinloc. It was an unfortunate outcome, but not one caused by our actions.

On a similar note, the PHL reiterates its demand to CHN for compensation for the damage caused to PHL vessels and equipment on 17 June 2024, as well as the return of its firearms and equipment, and the personal effects of its personnel that were illegally seized on that day.

Kailan pa kaya? Kung maging pula na ang kulay ng Panda at may "Red Star" sa noo. 😡

Has the Philippines filed a protest over Chinese actions in Bajo de Masinloc?

DFA spokesperson Amb Angelica Escalona says the DFA is still studying the possibility of filing a protest. 

Ms. Bea, can you give the names and positions of the officials at the table?

Australia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles will be visiting the Philippines this week, according to a release from the DFAT. Marles will also be visiting Malaysia. "In the Philippines, the Deputy Prime Minister will build on our cooperation and mutual trust through the 2nd Australia-Philippines Defence Ministers’ Meeting with Philippine Secretary of National Defense, Hon Gilberto Teodoro Jr.," says the DFAT.

Says Marles, according to a DFAT release:

“I look forward to meeting Secretary Teodoro in Manila to discuss ways to deepen Australia-Philippines defence cooperation; by building capacity and strengthening interoperability.

“Our cooperation through Exercise Alon reflects a shared commitment to working together to maintain a peaceful, secure and prosperous region where sovereignty is respected.”

Disturbance in our seas again @here https://www.rappler.com/philippines/photos-video-armed-forces-china-activity-ayungin-shoal-august-20-2025/

Australian Deputy Prime Minisyer and Defense Minister Richard Marles meets with PH Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr to kick off his visit to the Philippines. This weekend the two defense chiefs will also be in Palawan to witness Exercise ALON, the joint military drills between the two countries.

The Philippine Consulate General in New York said it is monitoring the recent tour bus tragedy in the state and is ready to assist Filipinos who may have been affected by the incident.

State police said most of the passengers were Asian or of Asian descent, including Chinese, Indians, and Filipinos.

READ: Philippines 'deeply concerned' by recent developments in Gaza, including Israel's planned full military takeover, continued restriction of aid

Here's the DFA's full statement —

DFA Statement on the Humanitarian Situation in Gaza

25 AUGUST 2025 – The Philippines joins the international community in its urgent call for an end to the ever-worsening humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.

The Philippines is deeply concerned by recent developments, including the Israeli government’s planned full military takeover of Gaza, the continuing restrictions on access to life-saving humanitarian aid such as food and water, large-scale displacement, attacks affecting civilians, and reports of settlement expansion in the West Bank. These developments aggravate an already dire humanitarian situation and further diminish prospects for a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace in the Middle East.

The Philippines therefore strongly calls on Israel to heed the ceasefire proposal as a crucial step to protect civilians and revive the path to peace. END

Senator Miguel Zubiri says the committee should next ask heads of the agencies — the DND, AFP, PCG, NICA, NTC, AMLC, DFA, etc — to attend the next hearing on proposals to update anti-espionage law.

Hearing continues -- with Sen Marcos saying her brother's statements on the Taiwan strait spooked many.

NEWS UPDATE: The Department of Foreign Affairs urges Israel to heed the ceasefire proposal amid the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, stressing the urgent need to protect civilians and restore peace.