At the ASEAN defense gathering in Cebu on October 29, 2026, Beijing accused an unnamed Philippine politician of obstructing its participation, while Manila stated China was given an opportunity to speak.

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.