WEST PHILIPPINE SEA TRANSPARENCY GROUP

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Philippine Standard Time

Reel-Time Tweets May 2026

The Chinese Embassy in Manila has once again inadvertently admitted what we have long asserted: that China is conducting illegal Marine Scientific Research (MSR) inside the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone.

The Chinese Embassy in Manila has once again inadvertently admitted what we have long asserted: that China is conducting illegal Marine Scientific Research (MSR) inside the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone.

May 10, 2026

In their statement, they confirm that their research vessel Xiangyanghong 33 was operating in the waters near “China’s Houteng Jiao” — their name for Iroquois Reef, the southernmost part of ...

As a sovereign nation, the Philippines has the inherent right to conduct military exercises with any country, including the United States and Japan.

As a sovereign nation, the Philippines has the inherent right to conduct military exercises with any country, including the United States and Japan.

May 9, 2026

As a sovereign nation, the Philippines has the inherent right to conduct military exercises with any country, including the United States and Japan. We possess the strategic autonomy to decide ...

PCG Aircraft Challenges Illegal Chinese MSR and Maritime Militia Swarming in KIG

PCG Aircraft Challenges Illegal Chinese MSR and Maritime Militia Swarming in KIG

May 7, 2026

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) conducted a routine Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) flight yesterday in the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) specifically to challenge illegal Marine Scientific Research (MSR) activities being ...

The location referred to by the Chinese Embassy is Pagasa Island and the Pagasa Cays, which form an integral part of the Kalayaan Island Group of the Philippines. These features have never been part of China. The recent activity in this area was undertaken by Philippine civil society and was not the result of any deployment or operation ordered by the Philippine government.

The location referred to by the Chinese Embassy is Pagasa Island and the Pagasa Cays, which form an integral part of the Kalayaan Island Group of the Philippines. These features have never been part of China. The recent activity in this area was undertaken by Philippine civil society and was not the result of any deployment or operation ordered by the Philippine government.

May 4, 2026

This area lies several hundred nautical miles from the Chinese mainland. It therefore cannot infringe upon any legitimate Chinese territorial sovereignty, as none exists here under international law. China cannot ...

The Chinese Embassy’s statement is telling. It is asserting that their research vessels are conducting scientific missions in “waters of the South China Sea under Chinese jurisdiction,” this means that they are openly admitting to violating the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and ignoring the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award.

The Chinese Embassy’s statement is telling. It is asserting that their research vessels are conducting scientific missions in “waters of the South China Sea under Chinese jurisdiction,” this means that they are openly admitting to violating the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and ignoring the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award.

May 3, 2026

Just in case they forget, the Arbitral Tribunal clearly ruled that China’s claims of “historic rights” within the so-called nine-dash line have no legal basis. Areas within the Philippines’ Exclusive ...

PCG to Deploy Aircraft and Vessels to Challenge and Drive Away Chinese Research Vessels Conducting Illegal Marine Scientific Research

PCG to Deploy Aircraft and Vessels to Challenge and Drive Away Chinese Research Vessels Conducting Illegal Marine Scientific Research

May 3, 2026

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has detected four Chinese research vessels operating in the vicinity of Philippine waters using Canada’s Dark Vessel Detection (DVD) System. Based on the observed movements ...