Overview

• China’s defense ministry warned Manila it would bear unspecified consequences over actions at Second Thomas Shoal, reiterating Beijing’s claims to the reef.
• Philippine officials reported a PLAN tugboat operating near the BRP Sierra Madre alongside 13 maritime militia vessels and two China Coast Guard ships, but said towing the grounded ship would take more than a single tug.
• Satellite tracking cited by the South China Morning Post showed Philippine coast guard ships intercepted near Half Moon Shoal by China Coast Guard 5304 and turning back while en route to the outpost.
• Australia, Canada and the Philippines completed air-defense drills east of Scarborough Shoal under Exercise ALON 2025, involving HMAS Brisbane, HMCS Ville de Québec and BRP Jose Rizal with fighter jets and helicopters.
• Maxar satellite images showed damaged China Coast Guard vessel 3104 in repair at Yulin naval base after its August 11 collision with a Chinese navy ship, as Manila reiterated red-line warnings over any boarding or towing of the Sierra Madre.