Filipino troops drive away Chinese vessels from Ayungin Shoal

General Romeo Brawner Jr., AFP chief of staff, reported on Sunday that Filipino troops at BRP Sierra Madre successfully drove away Chinese vessels from Ayungin Shoal and removed fishing nets installed by the Chinese maritime militia.

The military remains vigilant but is not on heightened alert status, according to Vice Admiral Alfonso Torres Jr., AFP Western Command chief.

Brawner stated that another rotation and resupply mission for BRP Sierra Madre would occur soon, expressing optimism that China will respect the agreement with Manila.

During Exercise Alon 2025 in Palawan, Filipino and Australian forces conducted Combined Joint Forcible Entry Operations to rehearse defense of western seaboards against security challenges.

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. dismissed potential criticism from China, emphasizing that such exercises assert a rules-based order and strengthen cooperation between nations.