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The Chinese military’s Southern Theatre Command said the USS Higgins had entered the waters “without approval of the Chinese government”.

– China’s military said on Aug 13 that it monitored and “drove away” a US destroyer that sailed near the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the busy waterway of the South China Sea, while the US Navy said its action was in line with international law.

The first known US military operation in at least six years within the shoal’s waters came a day after the Philippines accused Chinese vessels of “dangerous manoeuvres and unlawful interference” during a supply mission around the atoll.

In a statement, the Chinese military’s Southern Theatre Command said the USS Higgins had entered the waters “without approval of the Chinese government” on Aug 13 .

“The US move seriously violated China’s sovereignty and security, severely undermined peace and stability in the South China Sea,” it added, vowing to keep a “high alert at all times”.

In response, the US Navy’s Seventh Fleet said “China’s statement about this mission is false”, adding that the Higgins “asserted navigational rights and freedoms” near the Scarborough Shoal “consistent with international law”.

The operation reflected the US commitment to uphold freedom of navigation and lawful uses of the sea, it told Reuters in an e-mailed statement.

“The United States is defending its right to fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows, as USS Higgins did here. Nothing China says otherwise will deter us.”

China claims almost the entire South China Sea, despite overlapping claims by Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam.

The US regularly carries out “freedom of navigation” operations in the South China Sea, challenging what it says are curbs on passage imposed by China and other claimants.

The Scarborough Shoal has been a major source of tension in the South China Sea, a conduit for more than US$3 trillion (S$3.8 trillion) of annual ship-borne commerce.

The actions of Chinese vessels in the shoal this week also resulted in a collision of two of them, Manila said, the first such known in the area.

The Philippine Coast Guard on Aug 13 said the objective of the two Chinese vessels was to “completely block” it from getting near Scarborough Shoal.

China’s coast guard said it had taken “necessary measures” to expel Philippine vessels from the waters.

In 2016, an international arbitral tribunal ruled there was no basis in international law for Beijing’s claims based on its historic maps. China, however, does not recognise that decision. REUTERS

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

TARIFF. US and Chinese flags are seen in this illustration taken January 8, 2025.

The first known US military operation in at least six years within the shoal’s waters comes a day after the Philippines accused Chinese vessels of ‘dangerous maneuvers and unlawful interference’ during a supply mission around the atoll

BEIJING, China – China’s military said on Wednesday, August 13, it monitored and “drove away” a US destroyer that sailed near the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, while the US Navy said its action was in line with international law.

The first known US military operation in at least six years within the shoal’s waters came a day after the Philippines accused Chinese vessels of “dangerous maneuvers and unlawful interference” during a supply mission around the atoll.

In a statement, the Chinese military’s Southern Theatre Command said the USS Higgins had entered the waters “without approval of the Chinese government” on Wednesday.

“The US move seriously violated China’s sovereignty and security, severely undermined peace and stability in the South China Sea,” it added, vowing to keep a “high alert at all times.”

In response, the US Navy’s Seventh Fleet said, “China’s statement about this mission is false,” adding that the Higgins had “asserted navigational rights and freedoms” near the Scarborough Shoal “consistent with international law”.

The operation reflected the US commitment to uphold freedom of navigation and lawful uses of the sea, it told Reuters in an emailed statement.

“The United States is defending its right to fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows, as USS Higgins did here. Nothing China says otherwise will deter us.”

China claims almost the entire South China Sea, overlapping the exclusive economic zones of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. Unresolved disputes have festered for years over ownership of various islands and features.

The U.S. regularly carries out “freedom of navigation” operations in the South China Sea, challenging what it says are curbs on innocent passage imposed by China and other claimants.

The Scarborough Shoal has been a major source of tension in the strategic conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual ship-borne commerce.

The actions of Chinese vessels in the shoal this week also resulted in a collision of two of them, Manila said, the first such known in the area.

On Wednesday, the Philippine coast guard said the objective of the two Chinese vessels had been to “completely block” it from getting near Scarborough Shoal.

On Monday, China’s coast guard said it had taken “necessary measures” to expel Philippine vessels from the waters.

In 2016, an international arbitral tribunal ruled there was no basis in international law for Beijing’s claims, based on its historic maps. China does not recognise that decision, however. – Rappler.com

Ariel Porfirio Oliva Querubin is a retired colonel of the Philippine Marine Corps and a decorated military officer.

He was a member of the leftist student group Samahang Demokratiko ng Kabataan until he attended the Philippine Military Academy, graduating in 1979. He later earned a master’s degree in Defense Studies from the University of Canberra in Australia.

He was active in various military operations, including the communist rebellion and the Moro conflict. In 1989, then Captain Querubin co-founded the Young Officers’ Union, which along with other groups such as the Soldiers of the Filipino People and Reform the Armed Forces Movement participated in the most serious coup against Corazon Aquino’s government. He and his co-coup plotters were detained but were granted amnesty by President Fidel Ramos.

In 1994, he was credited with the neutralization of Barahama Sali, which led to the eventual release from captivity of Catholic priest Fr. Cirilo Nacorda who had been kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf in Basilan. He was also involved in the 2002 operation that killed the terrorist kidnap group Abu Sayyaf leader Abu Sabaya. Throughout his military career, he has received awards including the Medal of Valor, the highest Philippines military honor, the Most Distinguished Conduct Star, three Distinguished Service Stars, seven Gold Cross Medals, and 12 military merit medals.

In 2006, he was implicated in an alleged plot to overthrow the government of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, leading to his detention. He was later granted amnesty and released.

He resigned from military service and ran for a Senate seat under the Nacionalista Party in the 2010 elections but was unsuccessful. He supported the 2016 presidential candidacy of Senator Grace Poe, who had pledged to appoint him as anti-crime czar if she were elected. He later announced his intention to run for the Senate again in the 2025 elections.

Roberto “Ka Dodoy” Amido Ballon is a Filipino fisherman, environmental advocate, and recipient of the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award (RMA)—often referred to as the “Nobel Prize of Asia”—in 2021.

He serves as the chairperson of the Kapunungan sa mga Gagmay ng Mangingisda sa Concepcion, an organization he co-founded with fellow fisherfolk to combat overfishing and restore mangrove forests in Zamboanga Sibugay. Ballon also leads the Coalition of Municipal Fisherfolk Associations of Zamboanga Sibugay, a federation representing 34 fisherfolk organizations in the province.

Ballon’s work in rehabilitating mangrove forests has earned him widespread acclaim. Apart from the Ramon Magsaysay Award, he has received numerous accolades, including the Gawad Saka Award in Zamboanga Sibugay in 2003 and 2004, the Department of Agriculture’s National Gawad Saka Award in 2005, most outstanding fisherfolk in Zamboanga Sibugay in 2006, Ateneo de Zamboanga School of Medicine Award as the most outstanding fisherfolk organization leader in 2011, National Gawad Natatanging Parangal (Distinguished Award) under fish conservation by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in 2019, and the Equator Prize of the United Nations Development Programme in 2023.

He also received the Quedan and Rural Credit Guarantee Corporation Award for the self-resilient team program in the fish culture category, and a special recognition from the office of former Vice President Leni Robredo.

Ballon is one of the convenors of Atin Ito, a civilian-led mission of fishermen and volunteers aiming to assert Philippine sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea, particularly over Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal.

Bonifacio Laqui Bosita is a motorcycle rights activist and retired police officer who has been serving as a representative for the 1-Rider partylist in the House of Representatives since 2022.

He was formerly with the Philippine National Police (PNP), where he was assigned to the Highway Patrol Group. He also held the position of Public Information Office chief of the PNP Cavite office.

He is the founder of the Riders’ Safety Advocates of the Philippines (RSAP), an organization dedicated to promoting road safety and protecting the rights of motorcycle riders. As part of his advocacy, he runs the YouTube channel “Colonel Bosita, RSAP”.

Bosita gained national attention following an incident in 2021 when he questioned a Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) traffic enforcer’s issuance of a ticket to a motorcycle-riding couple for violating a shoes-only policy. The MMDA accused him of exploiting traffic enforcers for political gain and filed charges of grave coercion and usurpation of authority against him. He was arrested in Surigao del Sur in 2022 but later posted bail.

For the 2022 elections, he partnered with the Bicol-based motorcycle club 1-Rider to participate in the party-list system. He was named the second nominee of the group, which secured two congressional seats, allowing him to enter Congress.

In 2024, Bosita announced his candidacy for the 2025 senatorial elections, citing his partylist’s struggles in passing legislation as a motivating factor for seeking a higher position in government.