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MAY 6, 2025
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Beijing is Lying About the Condition of Scarborough Shoal
Despite Beijing’s assertions that the environmental condition of Scarborough Shoal is “excellent” and that authorities have cracked down on giant clam harvesting, the preponderance of the evidence—including legal documents, investigative journalism, satellite imagery and even Chinese state records—demonstrates that its stewardship since 2012 has actually resulted in severe damage to the shoal and its ecosystem.
MAY 6, 2025
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China's Expanding Control Over Scarborough Shoal
Over the past 12 months, China has vastly increased its forces blocking Philippine access to Scarborough Shoal, building a huge exclusion zone around the contested feature as the Philippines has pushed back with what it can.
APR 17, 2025
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Fish Farms or Footholds? China, South Korea and an OSINT Success Story
After South Korea confronted China with suspicions about its Yellow Sea aquaculture operations--culminating in a tense maritime standoff--SeaLight broke the story open with newly published images of the "steel structures" roiling tensions in Northeast Asia.
APR 7, 2025
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Gray Zone Tactics Playbook: Optical Weapons
Updated post: Optical weapons are non-lethal weapons used to cause temporary blindness or confuse personnel. They include lasers (dazzlers) and stroboscopic lights.
MAR 16, 2025
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Gray Zone Tactics Playbook: Sonic Weapons
China's increasing use of sonic weapons as a gray zone tactic against its rivals includes sirens, sonar and long-range acoustic devices.
MAR 11, 2025
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Beijing's Quiet Aggression at Sea
China's campaign of quiet aggression has already achieved many of its expansionist maritime objectives. Its neighbors and the world have started to notice, but checking Beijing's ambitions will take more than our attention.
MAR 6, 2025
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The Silent Struggle: Countering China’s Gray Zone Operations in the South China Sea
Two recent RAND reports serve as a wake-up call: integrating resilience, capacity, and coordinated efforts isn’t just beneficial for combatting China's gray-zone warfare, it’s absolutely imperative for long-term regional stability.
DEC 29, 2024
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China’s Other Expansion Victimizes Nepal and Bhutan
As the world watches China’s increasingly aggressive moves at sea, its quiet expansion across land borders in the Himalayas serves as a reminder that its ambitions extend far beyond the South China Sea or Taiwan. China is methodically expanding its reach, targeting small, vulnerable neighbors like Nepal and Bhutan.
NOV 24, 2024
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China's Imperialist, Maritime Occupation of the West Philippine Sea
It is no longer sufficient to describe China's aggressions in the West Philippine Sea as if they are a series of individual incursions. We've passed that point. This is now a maritime occupation by a hostile, imperial power. The Philippines and its friends need to adjust their conceptual frameworks, their strategies and their tactics accordingly.
OCT 22, 2024
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Indonesia Expels China Coast Guard Ship Harassing Research Vessel
The China Coast Guard harassed Indonesia's oil and gas exploration activities in the Arwana Block from 17-21 October. Indonesia responded by sending its own vessels to "expel" the Chinese ship.

News & Articles

MAY 19, 2025
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Philippines urged to file separate sovereign rights, environmental cases vs China
Manila should consider building a separate sovereign rights case against Beijing from its planned environmental suit amid China’s continued harassment of Philippine vessels within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ), a security analyst said at the weekend.
MAY 15, 2025
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China Coast Guard encounters at sea trigger fear, anxiety among Miri fishermen
In Miri Division, where the fisheries landscape differs significantly from other parts of Sarawak, deep-sea fishermen face a unique and persistent challenge — encounters with the China Coast Guard.
MAY 10, 2025
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Self-reliant defense system: Philippines crafting long-term West PH Sea policy
National Security Adviser Eduardo Año said that part of the development of the long-term policy is to ensure that this would be implemented regardless of who sits in Malacañang.
MAY 8, 2025
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Chinese Frigates Harass Philippine Navy Warship Near Scarborough Shoal
Two Chinese Navy frigates and a China Coast Guard cutter harassed a Philippine Navy patrol ship in the South China Sea near Scarborough Shoal on Monday in what Manila described as “aggressive and unsafe maneuvers.”
MAY 7, 2025
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Bajo de Masinloc clams, reefs suffer under China
Philippines’ Bajo de Masinloc also known as Scarborough Shoal suffers from China’s giant clam fishing activities, according to Sealight Project Director and retired US Air Force Col. Ray Powell.
MAY 5, 2025
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Philippines confronts Chinese ship’s ‘unlawful activities’ amid South China Sea tensions
Manila deployed a coastguard vessel and aircraft to challenge a Chinese research ship conducting illegal activities in its waters last week, the Philippines coastguard said.
MAY 4, 2025
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British warship sails South China Sea despite China warning
The Royal Navy patrol vessel HMS Spey has concluded a 16-day multinational exercise in the South China Sea, working alongside Commonwealth partners to rehearse joint responses to regional threats, including the simulated defence of Malaysian territory.
MAY 3, 2025
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New Offshore Patrol Vessel launched for China Coast Guard
New OPV may be first in a new series of smaller blue water-capable designs for Chinese Coast Guard. Vessel features modern radar and large calibre main gun.
APR 30, 2025
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PH’s ‘most accomplished’ warship’s last mission: Missile target in sinking exercise
The decommissioned Philippine Navy warship BRP Miguel Malvar will serve as target of a flagship corvette’s anti-ship missile in her final mission.
APR 28, 2025
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US deploys missile system for Balikatan
The US military on Saturday deployed its advanced anti-ship missile system in the northern Philippines for combat exercises as part of the annual Balikatan (shoulder-to-shoulder) war games, the Philippine military said on Sunday.
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