Overview

• Philippine monitoring on Aug. 20–21 recorded five China Coast Guard cutters, 11 fast boats and RHIBs, and nine maritime militia vessels around the BRP Sierra Madre, supported by a helicopter and an unmanned aerial vehicle.
• Several small boats appeared upgraded with mounted heavy weapons as cutters conducted water‑cannon drills and smaller craft laid netting across a shoal entrance used by Philippine resupply runs.
• The Armed Forces of the Philippines placed units on alert and readied contingency measures, with two boats launched from Sierra Madre to prevent Chinese vessels from closing in.
• The China Coast Guard said it had implemented “control measures” near the shoal and accused two Philippine boats of deliberate provocative collisions, releasing a short video clip.
• Separately, defense chiefs said the Philippines and Australia plan a new agreement next year to expand joint exercises and develop military infrastructure at five locations.