Move follows confrontation in contested waters last month
Experts say the unprecedented pace of dredging is not a threat to the Philippines, the third country with overlapping claims in the Spratly Islands
Analysts say the uptick in Chinese aggression will increase the risk of miscalculations or inadvertent military encounters
The clash took place Monday as Philippine forces attempted to resupply marines stationed on a derelict warship that was deliberately grounded atop the disputed Second Thomas Shoal in 1999 to assert Manila's territorial claims
Incident is the latest flare-up in waters near Second Thomas Shoal
The incident is the latest in a string of confrontations in waters disputed between Beijing and Manila
The Philippine move will likely be opposed by China, which has expansive claims to the busy seaway
US urged ASEAN to 'send an unmistakable message' about provocations in 'clearly Philippine waters' around Second Thomas Shoal
Philippine media believe the new procedures will empower the Chinese coast guard to 'arbitrarily' arrest Filipinos in their own waters
China had suggested that the Philippines must first notify Beijing over access to its outposts in the sea
Some analysts say messages from Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun and U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin’s speeches in Singapore suggest regional security may continue to deteriorate.
China allegedly plans to send some 20 floating nuclear power plants to the islands it reclaimed in the South China Sea, where it has long-running territorial disputes with some regional countries
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