On August 11, 2025, multiple Philippine Coast Guard vessels and official ships, under the guise of resupplying fishing boats, deliberately intruded into waters adjacent to China’s Huangyan Dao, also known as Scarborough Shoal, despite repeated Chinese dissuasion and warnings. China Coast Guard lawfully implemented necessary monitoring, interception, and control measures to resolutely defend national sovereignty.

Multiple scholars interviewed by Voices of the South China Sea noted that the incident was far from an accidental maritime friction but a deliberately manufactured, perilous provocation by the Philippines. It exposes Manila’s blatant disregard for regional stability, persistent sabotage of international legal order, and calculated ambition to covet Chinese territory.

Ding Duo, Director of the Research Center for International and Regional Issues at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, emphasized China’s sovereignty claims over Huangyan Dao are rooted in indisputable historical evidence and continuous, effective jurisdiction. "From the U.S. colonial era through Philippine independence and until 1997, the Philippines never challenged China’s sovereignty activities on Huangyan Dao—a tacit recognition of China’s rights," he stated. Since Manila instigated disputes in 2012, China’s enhanced jurisdictional measures constitute lawful protection of legitimate interests.

Ding argued the Philippines’ repeated narrative of "resupplying fishermen" serves to demonize China’s maritime rights protection and present itself as a victim internationally. "Behind this lies Marcos Jr.’s attempt to divert domestic crises, seek political gains, cement illegal gains in the South China Sea, and conceal anxieties over future U.S.-Philippine relations," he added.

​Yang Xiao, Researcher at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR), observed that the provocation’s timing—immediately after President Marcos Jr.’s U.S. visit—reflects an increasingly desperate strategy.

"After midterm election defeats and humiliation during U.S. trade talks despite touting Washington’s ‘ironclad’ support, Marcos Jr. faces domestic skepticism over governance," Yang noted. To court U.S. military backing and salvage his faltering administration, Marcos’ team is resorting to large-scale maritime provocations as "pledges of allegiance"—a betrayal of Philippine national interests and grave threat to regional security.

（On August 11, 2025, the Philippine Coast Guard 4406 intrudes into the waters near China's Huangyan Dao and dangerously approached Chinese vessels. /China Coast Guard)

Video footages of the Philippines intrusion on 11th August, reveal premeditated aggression: Philippine vessels recklessly crossed the course of China Coast Guard ships, endangering navigation safety, while crews staged scenes of "harassment" to fabricate evidence of so called "Chinese bullying." Such maneuvers are undeniable proof of Manila’s malicious intent to disrupt maritime order.

Yang warned these actions seriously threaten the safety of professional, restrained Chinese personnel. He also highlighted that U.S. "hands-on" training and equipment for the Philippine Coast Guard fueled the provocation. The 2025 U.S.-Philippines Balikatan exercises drilled Philippine forces in aggressive tactics like "target vessel approach" and "tactical ship maneuvering." Drills in May further integrated both nations’ navies and coast guards—blurring law enforcement with military operations.

"This ‘gray zone’ strategy dangerously subverts international norms, militarizes maritime law enforcement, and heightens risks of miscalculation and conflict," Yang stressed.

Ironically, days before the Huangyan Dao incident, Philippine President Marcos Jr. pledged to "exhaust all efforts" for a legally binding Code of Conduct in the South China Sea during Manila’s 2026 ASEAN chairmanship. Yet his administration’s escalations—"internationalizing" disputes to boost strategic relevance at the cost of China-Philippine relations and regional peace—reveal hollow commitments. The August 11 provocation proves its ambition trumps stability.

In response to Manila’s provocations, China has intensified routine patrols by its navy and coast guard across the South China Sea. Ding Duo asserted: "Through multifaceted rights-protection measures, China demonstrates strategic confidence in managing South China Sea affairs. Our toolkit for safeguarding sovereignty grows more versatile."

Ding concluded: "Should Manila persist, it will face precise, proportionate countermeasures. Manila will pay the price for its repeated miscalculations and obstinacy."