China’s military confirmed it actively monitored and tracked a joint patrol conducted by the Philippines in the contested South China Sea from October 30 to October 31, 2025.
This development unfolds amidst heightened military collaboration between Washington and Manila. Just a day prior, on October 31, the two allies revealed intentions to establish a new joint task force, specifically targeting areas like the South China Sea, a vital maritime route crucial for over $3 trillion in annual global trade.
Tian Junli, a spokesperson for the Southern Theater Command of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, harshly criticized the Philippine patrol, which reportedly included unnamed partners. He asserted that the activity “seriously undermined regional peace and stability” and went on to label the Philippines as “a troublemaker” in the region.
Mr. Tian concluded his statement by emphasizing, “The theater command forces remain on high alert and will resolutely safeguard national territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.”
As of reporting, the Philippine embassy in Beijing has not issued a response to the accusations.
The joint exercise that drew China’s attention involved the armed forces of Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, and the United States, and took place over the same two days in the South China Sea.
According to the U.S. 7th Fleet, the drill served to highlight “a collective commitment to strengthen regional and international cooperation in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.”
China continues to assert its claim over nearly the entirety of the South China Sea, a vast area that overlaps with claims made by Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam.
A significant ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague in 2016 declared that China’s extensive claims were without basis under international law, a judgment consistently rejected by Beijing.