MANILA. The Philippine government has condemned China’s deployment of armed coast guard vessels, supported by a helicopter and a drone, near the BRP Sierra Madre at Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea. Philippine defense officials vowed to defend the country’s territorial outpost amid rising tensions in the disputed waters.

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro denounced China’s actions during a joint press conference with visiting Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles. He described Beijing’s maneuvers as “gross violations of international law” and called for stronger resistance. “We need to stand up to this,” Teodoro said.

General Romeo Brawner Jr., chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, confirmed that several Chinese ships, suspected militia vessels, and speedboats equipped with heavy weapons had surrounded the shoal since Wednesday. He added that a Chinese vessel came as close as 50 meters from the Sierra Madre before Filipino troops intervened to push them back. “The situation is tense because they’re trying to get closer but our troops continue to push them outward,” Brawner said.

The Sierra Madre, a grounded Philippine Navy ship since 1999, has long served as Manila’s territorial outpost at the shoal. China, however, has maintained a near-constant presence around the area, which it claims as part of its territory.

In response to the flare-up, China’s coast guard issued a statement urging the Philippines to “stop infringement activities, provocations and false accusations.” It also released a video accusing Philippine forces of engaging in a “staged provocation,” though it did not address reports of its new deployments.

The incident was discussed in closed-door talks between Teodoro and Marles, who reaffirmed Australia’s commitment to defending a rules-based order in the region. “We work really closely with the Philippines in terms of asserting the rules-based order in the South China Sea,” Marles said.

Marles is in the Philippines to observe Exercise Alon (Tagalog for wave), the largest joint military drills between the two countries, involving over 3,600 troops and showcasing advanced Australian firepower, including fighter jets, naval destroyers, and special forces.

Philippine and Australian officials signed a joint letter of intent to deepen defense cooperation and boost collective deterrence. China has repeatedly raised objections to such military exercises, warning against what it sees as threats to its sovereignty.

The new confrontation follows a collision on August 11 between two Chinese ships at Scarborough Shoal, which occurred as they attempted to block a Philippine coast guard vessel. Philippine officials reported damage to one Chinese ship and possible injuries among its crew, but Beijing has not commented on the incident.