Manila, Philippines – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is reportedly aware of China’s issuance of new guidelines regarding implementing rules for Scarborough Shoal on August 2, 2026.
According to China’s purported new management rules for the Huangyan Dao National Reserve, the aim is to protect the biodiversity and sustainability of the shoal’s ecosystem.
However, the Philippine government strongly rejected the notion of a nature reserve, while warning Beijing against enforcing standards in a maritime area that falls within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
According to Beijing, the new guidelines include conducting routine patrols, imposing sanctions on violators of the standards, and requiring prior notification to Beijing for any activity in the area.
Nevertheless, the government maintained that the Philippines holds solid sovereignty over Scarborough Shoal—a position reinforced by international laws such as the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines confirmed that they had spotted Chinese naval forces conducting military drills at Bajo de Masinloc.
This occurred despite China’s repeated, conflicting assertions that it would not conduct military exercises in the West Philippine Sea.
Earlier, National Maritime Council Spokesperson Undersecretary Alexander Lopez had dismissed reports of China conducting military drills at BDM as lacking credibility.—Alvin Pelobello, Eurotv News