The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed the presence of warships from the United States Navy near the Scarborough Shoal days after vessels from China Coast Guard (CCG) and the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) collided.

“The DFA is aware of the FONOPS (Freedom of Navigation Operations) conducted by US warships in the vicinity waters of Bajo de Masinloc, which is a longstanding and integral part of Philippine territory,” the DFA said in a statement Wednesday night, Aug. 13.

The agency pointed out that the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) assures “certain rights and freedoms of transit”—such as innocent passage, freedom of navigation and archipelagic sea lanes passage—in the Philippines’ archipelagic waters, territorial sea and exclusive economic zone.

“Notification is not required by the Philippines for foreign vessels to exercise these freedoms in Philippine maritime zones, in accordance with international law, particularly the 1982 UNCLOS,” it added.

The FONOPS—the first conducted by the US Navy near Scarborough Shoal since 2019–came after Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel BRP Suluan (MRV 4406), which was among the vessels deployed there for a mission for Filipino fishermen, evaded a water cannon attack by a CCG ship on Monday, Aug. 11.

This has resulted in the collision of the CCG ship and China’s PLAN vessel.

PCG spokesperson for West Philippine Sea Affairs Commodore Jay Tarriela described the encounter as “hazardous maneuvers and blocking actions” by the “other vessels in the vicinity.”

Meanwhile, the embassies of New Zealand, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Canada in Manila joined the rest of the diplomatic community in expressing their concern about China’s recent actions near the shoal, which is inside the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the governments of New Zealand and Australia, with which the Philippines has an existing defense agreement, called out China for the “dangerous” actions in the South China Sea.

“NZ is concerned by the collision between vessels near Scarborough Shoal, and the pattern of dangerous and destabilising actions in the SCS. We do not want to see ship and crew safety undermined. We call for peaceful resolution of maritime disputes in accordance with UNCLOS,” the New Zealand embassy said.
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“Australia is seriously concerned by the dangerous and unprofessional conduct of Chinese vessels near Scarborough Shoal involving the Philippine Coast Guard. This incident highlights the need for de-escalation, restraint and respect for international law, particularly UNCLOS,” the Australian Embassy added.

The British Embassy in Manila also urged parties to adhere to international laws, including UNCLOS, to prevent sea mishaps.

“The UK is concerned by the dangerous incident near Scarborough Shoal involving the PLAN, CCG and PHCG, and for the safety of the seafarers involved. Our thoughts are with any personnel injured. This incident risked escalation and endangered lives at sea,” it said.

“We call for adherence to international law, including UNCLOS, and to the highest standards of safety and professionalism at sea,” the embassy added.

The Canadian Embassy in Manila, for its part, expressed “grave concerns” over the latest incident.

“We commend the @coastguardph for offering to help a Chinese vessel and continue to call for the peaceful resolution of disputes, in accordance with UNCLOS and the 2016 Arbitral Award,” it wrote.