An ongoing standoff between the Chinese and Philippine coast guards underscores the contentiousness of the situation. The People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) belligerence and brinkmanship against the democratic allies of the United States of America in the Indo-Pacific region continue unabated.

Chinese coast guard ships and a Chinese navy helicopter harassed a group of Philippine fisheries vessels conducting a scientific survey in a hotly disputed area of the South China Sea, forcing them to cancel the operation,

MANILA: Three more Chinese vessels, including the so-called “monster ship,” were detected near Bajo de Masinloc as the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) continues its monitoring efforts off Zambales.

The Philippine Coast Guard has entered its third week of actively challenging its Chinese counterparts, including a 12,000-ton “monster” China Coast Guard cutter within the country’s exclusive economic zone off Western Luzon.

The Philippines said on Saturday it has suspended a scientific survey in the South China Sea after two of its fisheries vessels faced "harassment" and aggressive behaviour from China's coast guard and navy.

Chinese cutters, small boats and aircraft blocked a Philippine scientific research mission to the South China Sea features of Sand Cay on Friday, according to Philippine officials. BRP Datu Pagbuaya (MMOV-3003) and BRP Datu Bankaw (MMOV-3004),

As Jakarta deepens military and coastguard cooperation while rejecting Beijing's sweeping claims, can it maintain a precarious equilibrium? Indonesia is walking a fine line between bolstering ties with Beijing and preserving its long-standing non-aligned stance.