RUSI – A recent spate of incidents in the South China Sea involving the US, China and the Philippines points to the risks of escalation, even if a larger-scale conflict is unlikely in the short term.

Reuters – The Philippines has built a new coast guard station on the contested island of Thitu in the South China Sea, boosting its ability to monitor movements of Chinese vessels and aircraft in the busy disputed waterway.

USNI News – On Nov. 21, the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, in coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, began joint maritime and aerial patrols in the South China Sea.

War on the Rocks – In the coming weeks and months, China is likely to roll out new and creative gray-zone tactics to get the point across that it maintains sovereignty over Second Thomas Shoal. If this happens, then it will only reconfirm the fact that deterrence through the strengthening U.S.-Philippine alliance is actually working. Put a different way, because deterrence is holding, Beijing must reach into its toolkit to find additional coercive gray-zone tactics to stop future resupply missions, short of an armed attack. Rather than view such moves with frustration, Manila and Washington should consider them a victory.

Naval News – Amid a flurry of multilateral exercises, South China Sea tensions, and the start of Manila’s last phase of military modernization, Naval News caught up with the skipper of BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151), Captain Clyde Domingo. 

Defense News – The United States and the Philippines have wrapped up joint naval drills near the Asian nation that focused on replenishment at sea, naval warfare, and human assistance and disaster response.

Defense News – The Philippine military is realigning its modernization program to strengthen territorial and coastal defense amid escalating tension with China.

BBC – The confrontation between Manila and Beijing over submerged shoals in the South China Sea has been going on for decades.  But in recent months something has changed. The spats at sea are now unfolding in the full glare of the television media

USNI News – A Philippine supply boat collided on Sunday with a China Coast Guard vessel attempting to block it during an operation to resupply the grounded LST BRP Sierra Madre (LS57) at Second Thomas Shoal in the disputed Spratly Islands. 

Naval News – The Naval Air Wing plans to procure a number of systems that will benefit the Philippine Navy’s ISR capabilities.

USNI News – The Philippines conducted a successful resupply mission on Wednesday to its outpost on BRP Sierra Madre(LS-57), grounded at Second Thomas Shoal in the disputed Spratly Islands, despite China’s attempts at obstruction.

USNI News – Beijing is protesting the Philippine Armed Forces’ removal of a floating barrier installed by Chinese forces to block access to the contested Scarborough Shoal.

Naval News – From sales to donations and even upgrades of older vessels, South Korea has taken the lead role in modernizing the Philippine Navy.

USNI News – Australia and the Philippines agreed to joint patrols in the South China Sea on Friday as the two countries elevated their ties to a strategic partnership. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Philippine President Bongbong Marcos inked several agreements and a joint declaration during their first-ever bilateral meeting in Manila amid tensions with China.

War on the Rocks – The Philippines should remove the Sierra Madre and replace it with a permanent structure manned by combined rotational forces from both the Philippines and the U.S. Marine Corps. Such a forward operating base would be a powerful signal of commitment to the alliance for both nations as well as providing significant improvements in situational awareness for both the United States and the Philippines. By raising the potential costs of interference, a combined outpost might deter future efforts from Beijing aimed at interdicting resupply of Philippine bases in the South China Sea. 

USNI News – On Friday, the Philippines successfully carried out a resupply mission to its outpost at Second Thomas Shoal in the disputed Spratly Islands, despite opposing actions by China Coast Guard and Chinese Maritime Militia ships.

Eurasian Times – The Philippines is the only Southeast Asian country embroiled in a territorial dispute with China that doesn’t operate a submarine. As of 2012, Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia were already operating submarines, with Vietnam following suit. Even Myanmar has its submarines.

(Thanks to Alain)

BBC – Where previously Manila may have softly whimpered at China’s actions to block its ships, its voice has now soared to a roar, emboldened by support from Washington and its allies.

USNI News – A new report from the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments contends that three Philippine-based but contractor-owned and operated unmanned aerial systems would significantly improve maritime domain awareness efforts in the South China Sea in peace and in war.

ABS-CBN – The rotation and resupply (RORE) mission to the BRP Sierra Madre — the Philippines’ lone outpost in the Ayungin Shoal — is set to commence “soon,” the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said on Saturday, about 2 weeks after China meddled the operations by launching water cannons and nearly ramming into Manila’s resupply vessels.

1945 – Reality has set in on both sides of the Pacific with respect to Communist China. The Philippine Star is reporting that joint U.S.-Philippine coast guard patrols will take to the sea by year’s end. It’s the feel-good story of midsummer.

The Guardian – Vessel becomes potential flashpoint as Beijing orders Philippines to remove wreck housing marines in South China Sea.

BBC – The Philippine Coast Guard has accused its Chinese counterpart of firing water cannon at its vessels and blocking them in the disputed South China Sea.

USNI News – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) sighted 48 Chinese fishing vessels around the Philippines Economic Exclusion Zone in the South China Sea on June 30, the service announced Friday.

Naval News – The Philippine Army looks to American and Indian firepower amid its shift to territorial defense operations.