The Philippines is ramping up its calls against China’s escalating maritime aggression, with Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro accusing Beijing of deploying military vessels disguised as fishing boats and Coast Guard ships. 

This move, he said, aims to deny the Philippines access to its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). China is claiming sovereignty over almost the whole of South China Sea.

“They have been more aggressive in denying us access to our exclusive economic zone,” Teodoro said on November 19, during a high-profile press conference in Palawan.

“They have really placed a lot of these pseudo-military vessels disguised as Coast Guard vessels and maritime militia vessels in the areas west of the Philippine Sea,” he said.

Teodoro’s statement coincided with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s visit to Palawan, a strategic island on the frontline of the Philippines’ maritime conflict with China. Austin echoed Teodoro’s concerns, calling China’s behavior “concerning” and “escalatory.”

“You’ve heard me say that a number of times,” Austin said. “They’ve used dangerous and escalatory measures to enforce their expansive South China Sea maritime claims.”

China’s gray-zone tactics 

China’s maritime militia — dubbed a “gray-zone” force — has become its primary tool in asserting contested territorial claims. These vessels, disguised as fishing boats, support military operations while maintaining plausible deniability by operating under civilian cover. 

They reportedly harass Philippine ships, block access to fishing grounds, and establish a constant presence in disputed areas.

Such tactics allow Beijing to assert dominance without resorting to open military conflict. Teodoro and Austin’s remarks shed light on this strategy, warning it undermines regional stability.

The U.S. is stepping up its commitment to the Philippines, announcing new defense initiatives during Austin’s visit. This includes delivering unmanned maritime vessels as part of a US$500 million security assistance package. These state-of-the-art vessels aim to bolster Philippines’ ability to patrol its EEZ and defend its sovereignty.

“We expect to see many more vessels like this delivered… to ensure that the Philippines has the capabilities it needs to defend its rights and its sovereignty throughout its exclusive economic zone,” Austin said after witnessing a demonstration of the unmanned vessels.

The trip also marked the signing of the General Secrecy of Military Information Agreement, allowing the two allies to share classified military data. This pact could pave the way for similar agreements between the Philippines and other like-minded nations.

China has openly criticized the agreement. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian warned, “No military agreement… should target any third party or harm the interests of any third party.”

China faces international pushback

Beyond maritime confrontations, Philippine officials are voicing concerns about China’s covert operations on land. 

“China has been notorious for manufacturing fake products they sell in our markets. Now, they also have fake fishing boats – disguised fishing boats – manned by Chinese Coast Guard or Navy personnel and deployed to the WPS,” Surigao Del Norte 2nd District Representative Robert Ace Barbers said in a statement.

“This was bared by defense chief Gibo Teodoro after his recent visit to Palawan with his U.S. counterpart,” he added.

Barbers alleged that Chinese military personnel may be infiltrating the country under the guise of Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) workers, citing past discoveries of military uniforms at a raided POGO facility in Pampanga.

The lawmaker also lambasted Beijing’s broader deception tactics, including its insistence on territorial claims invalidated by the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016. The court ruled that China’s “historic rights” under its self-drawn nine-dash line have “no basis in law”.

“The Hague-based decision, constituted under UNCLOS, ruled that China’s claim of historic rights to resources in areas falling within its invisible demarcation (in the West Philippine Sea) had no basis in law and is without legal effect,” Barbers said.

China has also summoned the Philippine ambassador over recently enacted maritime laws aimed at reinforcing the Philippines’ maritime zones. 

Barbers noted that while Beijing demands respect for its baseless territorial lines, it refuses to acknowledge the sovereign rights of the Philippines and other Southeast Asian claimants.

Amid these rising tensions, the Philippines is seeking stronger international support to uphold the rule of law in the region. 

Teodoro’s visit to Palawan alongside Austin underscores the importance of alliances like the Mutual Defense Treaty with the U.S. With China’s aggressive posture showing no signs of abating, the Philippines continues to stand firm, asserting its rights under international law.

As Barbers put it: “China wants the international community to respect their ‘no historical and legal basis’ territorial lines but does not respect the Philippines and other claimants to the West Philippine Sea.”

West Philippine Sea refers to the waters in the Philippines’ 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone, not the whole of the South China Sea.

Photo credit: Gilbert Teodoro. Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro.