Overview

• Philippine officials say at least 14 China Coast Guard and suspected militia vessels with high‑caliber weapons, a helicopter and a drone were tracked near the BRP Sierra Madre at Second Thomas Shoal since Wednesday.
• Two boatloads of Filipino forces deployed from the grounded outpost to keep Chinese vessels at a distance, and a navy spokesperson said contingency plans are in place if tensions escalate.
• Philippine monitors reported a Chinese cutter conducting water‑cannon drills and smaller boats laying a net across a shoal entrance used by past Philippine resupply runs.
• An AFP patrol at Scarborough Shoal observed 11 China Coast Guard watercraft, including fast boats and RHIBs upgraded with mounted weapons, plus five cutters practicing water‑cannon use.
• The AFP also reported a Chinese UAV, a Navy helicopter, and nine maritime militia ships at Scarborough as an analyst characterized the deployments as a hardened effort to deter Philippine operations.