The defining challenge for Manila will be to persuade a hesitant Asean to view the South China Sea issue not as an isolated legal tussle for the Philippines, but as a common transnational imperative.
China’s state-owned and controlled media posted a news story and photo, where it seized control of an uninhabited feature in the South China Sea, a clear violation of the 2002 informal code of conduct it agreed to with the 10 Southeast Asian Nations.
A Facebook reel falsely claimed that Davao City-based military troops loyal to Vice President Sara Duterte were mobilized and sent to Manila to protect her.
China’s Coast Guard had intercepted and prevented a small Philippine indigenous boat from bringing food and fresh water to troops stationed aboard a naval transport vessel stuck in Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.
An erroneous video claiming that the Philippine Navy had fired warning shots at China’s vessels in Scarborough Shoal was again reposted by a YouTube content creator.
