Philippines accuses Chinese coast guard of blocking law enforcement operation near Thitu Island

On October 4, 2026, the Philippine Coast Guard said Chinese vessels obstructed a law enforcement operation against a suspected dynamite fishing vessel near Thitu Island in the South China Sea. The operation was abandoned after Chinese vessels shadowed and blocked the Philippine team, and a Chinese navy helicopter circled overhead. In a separate incident on October 3, a Chinese J-16 fighter jet flew close to a Philippine patrol aircraft over Scarborough Shoal. China accused the Philippine aircraft of illegally entering its airspace and warned against provocative acts. These incidents are part of ongoing tensions between the Philippines and China over territorial claims in the South China Sea.