China and Philippines have a rare naval stand off near disputed Scarborough Shoal

Four Chinese warships reportedly confronted a Philippine Navy vessel near the disputed Scarborough Shoal in a rare stand-off on Saturday, the same day Manila wrapped up a joint drill with the US and its allies.

The confrontation coincided with the end of Salaknib 2026, a nearly three-month joint military exercise involving more than 7,000 troops from the Philippines, the United States, Japan, New Zealand and Australia.

Beijing has not commented on the incident.

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According to a report by 24 Oras Weekend, a Philippine television news show broadcast by GMA Network, the Philippine Navy’s Miguel Malvar-class guided-missile frigate BRP Diego Silang encountered four Chinese warships after meeting one Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) naval vessel earlier that morning.

The TV footage showed that Chinese and Philippine navy personnel exchanged radio challenges, telling each other to leave the area immediately.

The Diego Silang launched its AgustaWestland AW109 helicopter while sailing at 18 knots as part of a patrol operation near the disputed shoal, according to the report.

Scarborough Shoal – a triangular coral reef formation surrounding a lagoon – is about 124 nautical miles (230km, 143 miles) off the Philippine coast and about 874km from China’s Hainan province. It is claimed by both countries and has become one of the most closely watched sites in their long-running dispute over the South China Sea.