Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Jing Quan stated on October 15, 2026 that China could easily win if it chose to use military force against the Philippines, while maintaining that Beijing loves peace and chooses not to use force.

The overlapping territorial and maritime claims in the South China Sea, principally between China and Southeast Asian states including the Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia, encompassing disputed islands, reefs and shoals, and the naval, coastguard and diplomatic confrontations arising from them.