Tensions Rise Again in South China Sea as China Accuses Philippines of "Illegal Intrusion"

On Sunday, China's Southern Theater Navy reported that a Philippine Navy frigate "illegally intruded" into the waters surrounding Scarborough Shoal, a contested area in the South China Sea. According to a statement posted by FirstSquawk on X.com, Chinese forces "monitored, warned, and drove away" the vessel, urging the Philippines to "immediately stop the infringement and provocation."

The incident adds to ongoing maritime tensions in the region, where both nations assert competing territorial claims. Scarborough Shoal, located roughly 120 nautical miles off the Philippine coast, has long been a flashpoint in the dispute between Manila and Beijing.