By WPS News Staff Reporter

Dateline: 10 December 2025

In the week leading up to December 6, China’s behavior at sea and along its land frontier followed a familiar pattern: push hard, deny everything, and dare its neighbors to keep up.


From the West Philippine Sea to the East China Sea—and even on the Himalayan ridgeline with India—Beijing’s moves raised new questions about how much strain the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) can absorb before it becomes a dead letter in the region.

West Philippine Sea: Chinese Ships Edge Closer to Luzon

On the morning of December 6, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported pushing a China Coast Guard vessel, hull number CCG-3303, farther away from the coast of Zambales. Operating in rough seas with waves of two to three meters, BRP Cape San Agustin (MRRV-4408) maneuvered to increase the distance between the Chinese vessel and Luzon to about 135 nautical miles.

The PCG described the operation as part of its regular patrols in the West Philippine Sea, framing the presence of CCG-3303 as encroachment inside the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Under UNCLOS, a coastal state has sovereign rights within 200 nautical miles.

Earlier in the week, on December 4, 19 Chinese warships were documented near Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal), a traditional Philippine fishing ground inside the EEZ but effectively controlled by China.

Manila also disclosed a renewed effort to strengthen its Bantay Dagat civilian patrol fleet, directly linking the initiative to China’s increasing pressure in WPS waters.

UNCLOS and the 2016 Hague Ruling: The Legal Lines China Keeps Crossing

Under UNCLOS, coastal states have exclusive rights to resources inside their EEZs. China’s continued presence and law-enforcement actions inside those waters violate both the convention and the 2016 South China Sea arbitral ruling.

The tribunal rejected China’s “nine-dash line” in 2016 and ruled that many Chinese actions—especially dangerous maneuvers near Scarborough Shoal—were unlawful.

China still rejects the decision.
The legal baseline has not changed.

East China Sea: Senkaku Standoff Rekindles Tension

On December 2, China and Japan issued conflicting accounts of a confrontation near the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands:

  • China claimed it expelled a Japanese fishing vessel “illegally” in what it regards as Chinese waters.
  • Japan said two Chinese coast guard ships intruded into its territorial sea while it was protecting the Japanese fishing vessel.

This came just as China launched one of its largest regional naval deployments ever, with more than 100 PLAN and coast guard vessels operating across the Yellow Sea, East China Sea, South China Sea, and western Pacific—some engaging in mock attack and area-denial drills.

Japan and Taiwan both voiced concern.

South China Sea Beyond the Philippines: Quiet Moves, Bigger Implications

While no major collisions or rammings were reported between China and Vietnam this week, Chinese surveillance and intelligence-gathering infrastructure in the Southontested region continued to expand.

Reports highlighted Beijing’s growing sensor network around occupied features—technology that strengthens China’s ability to enforce its claims rapidly.

Vietnam and China remain in a tense stand-off over several reefs, even if this particular week lacked headline-grabbing confrontations.

China–India: A Silent Frontier With Robots Watching

A 34-second viral video appeared to show a humanoid-like figure on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Analysts believe it was likely a stationary PLA surveillance robot.

This came alongside reporting that China has strengthened its positions in parts of Ladakh despite claims of “de-escalation.”

No kinetic clashes were reported this week.
But the psychological pressure—and the technological edge—continues to rise.

A Region Under Grey-Zone Pressure

Across the same seven-day window:

  • China pushed a coast guard vessel closer to Luzon.
  • Deployed 19 ships around Scarborough Shoal.
  • Challenged Japan near the Senkakus.
  • Conducted massive multitheater naval maneuvers.
  • Expanded surveillance in contested South China Sea areas.
  • Watched India with robotic eyes on the ridge.

This is the pattern:
slow, persistent, legally questionable pressure designed to shift the region’s status quo, one week at a time.

For more social commentary, see Occupy 2.5 at https://Occupy25.com

References (APA)

BusinessWorld. (2025, December 1). PHL boosts Bantay Dagat patrols in South China Sea.

GMA Integrated News. (2025, December 6). PCG pushes China Coast Guard vessel farther away from Zambales coastline.

Manila Bulletin. (2025, December 6). PCG deploys ship to push back Chinese vessel amid rough seas off Zambales.

The Manila Times. (2025, December 4). 19 Chinese warships patrol areas near Scarborough Shoal.

ABS-CBN News. (2025, December 3). PCG spots more Chinese ships near Bajo de Masinloc.

Ong, G. (2025, December 1). PCG: Chinese ships continue encroaching in West Philippine Sea. The Philippine Star.

Reuters. (2025, December 2). China, Japan give conflicting accounts of confrontation around Senkaku Islands.

Nippon.com. (2025, December 2). 2 Chinese ships sail in Japanese waters off Senkakus.

Reuters. (2025, December 4). China massing military ships across region in show of maritime force, sources say.

Taipei Times. (2025, December 5). Taiwan, Japan voice concern over Chinese military movements.

Heijmans, P. (2025, December 3). China boosts intelligence reach in South China Sea, report says. Bloomberg.

Indo-Pacific Defense Forum. (2025, December 1). Philippines to focus on South China Sea code of conduct despite China’s obstinance.

The Washington Post. (2025, November 12). China made quiet border advances as ties warmed, Indian critics warn.

News.com.au. (2025, December 5). Viral footage appears to show China humanoid robot on Himalayan border.

The Economic Times. (2025, December 3). Viral video claims a Chinese “spy robot” patrolling near India border.

Permanent Court of Arbitration. (2016, July 12). The South China Sea arbitration (The Republic of the Philippines v. The People’s Republic of China) – Award.

United Nations. (1982). United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

NOAA. (n.d.). Maritime zones and boundaries.

U.S. Department of State. (2024, July 11). Eighth anniversary of the Philippines-PRC South China Sea arbitral tribunal ruling.

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