The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Monday said it deployed an aircraft to challenge a Chinese research vessel that appeared to be conducting a survey near Batanes, the country’s northernmost province nearest to Taiwan. As this developed, the Philippine Air Force (PAF) launched its “Cope Thunder” bilateral exercise with its American counterpart in Clark Air Base, amid maritime tensions in the region caused by Beijing’s incursions beyond its waters.

Mangosing, F. (2025, April 8). PCG challenges Chinese ship amid ‘Cope Thunder’ drills. Philippine Daily Inquirer, pp. A1, A4.