A Filipino fisherman and his ready assistant recover their nets in Laguna de Bay, Philippines. Image Source: Reuters; Erik de Castro

A blazing fireball cut across the sky, and moments later, tremors rippled through the ground. Investigations revealed debris from China’s Long March-12 rocket had splashed down alarmingly close: just twenty-one nautical miles from Puerto Princesa and eighteen from the Tubbataha Reef Natural Park, a UNESCO-listed marine sanctuary within the Sulu Sea.

Debris from China’s Long March-12 rocket had splashed down … just twenty-one nautical miles from Puerto Princesa.

National Security Adviser Eduardo Año issued a strongly worded condemnation: “We condemn in no uncertain terms the irresponsible testing done by the People's Republic of China of its Long March 12 rocket which alarmed the public and placed the people of Palawan at risk.” The Philippine Space Agency cautioned that rocket components, such as boosters and fairings, can endanger both people and marine ecosystems. Though no debris had been recovered, coordinated naval and aerial patrols scoured the designated drop zones, and coastal residents were warned to avoid any fragments due to the danger of toxic fuel contamination.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., in a pointed response to Beijing, stated, “We have no interest in your rockets. Just tell us where they will land, we will collect them and return them to you.” While careful not to escalate tensions, the statement underscored a serious demand for China to provide advance notice of any launches or debris paths so Philippine authorities can take measures to protect lives and ecosystems.

“We have no interest in your rockets.”

The Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Western Command mobilized swiftly, deploying two aircraft, a helicopter, and a naval vessel to search the waters between Palawan and Tubbataha Reef. Colonel Nep V. Padua confirmed the mission would continue until debris was recovered or deemed irretrievable. Residents described both fear and relief - startled by the fireball and tremors, yet confident in their military’s readiness.

A Pattern of Provocations

This was far from the first incident straining Philippine patience. In June 2024, during a rescue mission at Second Thomas Shoal, Philippine forces attempted to evacuate personnel from the grounded BRP Sierra Madre, a key military outpost. Chinese Hubei-class missile boats shadowed their movements, heightening the risk of collision in a tense standoff that drew international criticism.

In early 2025, Chinese state-linked social media accounts pushed baseless claims that Palawan historically belonged to China, denounced by Philippine officials as part of a “cognitive warfare” campaign. By July, a Chinese maritime militia vessel was recorded dropping a nylon parachute anchor in a protected zone near Pag-asa Reef, destroying about thirty percent of the coral cover and causing over eleven million pesos in environmental damage. Scientists reported the anchor blocked sunlight and crushed fragile corals in an area where such activity is banned. Together, these provocations reveal an increasing pattern of bypassing diplomatic norms, disregarding ecological protection, and undermining Philippine sovereignty.

The Hidden Current

Beyond direct confrontations, another serious danger flows into Philippine waters from the South China Sea: pollution and overfishing driven in part by Chinese activity. Seasonal monsoon currents push dredging sediments, microplastics, chemical residues, and biological waste toward the Philippine coast. Research shows some Chinese coastal waters feeding the South China Sea contain microplastic concentrations above 180 particles per cubic meter, with rivers adding billions more each year. Heavy metals such as mercury and cadmium, along with industrial effluents, build up in marine life and threaten human health. In some heavily industrialized zones, pollution has created dead areas where fish and coral cannot survive—a warning of what may drift downstream.

Overfishing adds to the strain. The South China Sea once ranked among the world’s most abundant fishing grounds, supporting more than 3.7 million jobs and generating billions in revenue. Unchecked exploitation has now reduced stocks of tuna, grouper, and other high-value species, cutting into the livelihoods of Filipino fishers.

Unchecked exploitation has now reduced stocks of tuna, grouper, and other high-value species, cutting into the livelihoods of Filipino fishers.

Habitat destruction deepens the damage. Large-scale dredging and artificial island construction at Mischief Reef, Fiery Cross Reef, and other areas send sediment clouds that suffocate corals and alter water chemistry. At Scarborough Shoal, giant clam harvesting has caused more reef loss than China’s building projects, breaking apart structures vital to marine biodiversity. National Geographic has reported that nearly half the reefs in the South China Sea may already be in serious decline.

These same waters are crucial for Philippine tourism, drawing visitors to pristine seas and vibrant reefs. Marine tourism generates tens of billions of pesos annually, now at risk from pollution, overfishing, and habitat loss. In contested zones like Sabina Shoal and Iroquois Reef, sediment dumping and alleged construction have left corals buried and ecosystems slow to recover. Murky waters block sunlight from corals, while changes in pH and turbidity disrupt nutrient cycles and hinder fish spawning. Reports have documented stretches of dead coral, dwindling fish stocks, and fish kills tied to toxic buildup.

Marine tourism generates tens of billions of pesos annually, now at risk from pollution, overfishing, and habitat loss.

Fishing remains one of the Philippines’ most important industries, employing over 1.6 million people and placing the country among the top global tuna producers. The health of these seas is directly linked to national food security, coastal economies, and export income—making any upstream harm an immediate national concern.

Defending the Seas

Taken together, these incidents—from rocket debris landing near a UNESCO sanctuary to the deliberate destruction of coral reefs and the steady invasion of pollution and overfishing—reveal a deeply troubling pattern. China’s actions consistently place strategic and technological ambitions above the environmental integrity and sovereign rights of the Philippines. For many Filipinos, every diplomatic protest, naval patrol, and environmental investigation has become more than a bureaucratic duty; it is a battle to defend both the nation’s dignity and the resources that sustain millions. Those who take a firm stand against Beijing’s incursions—whether scientists, naval officers, or political leaders—are emerging as frontline defenders of the seas, with the nation’s full support to push back against these violations before more of the country’s waters, freedoms, and livelihoods are stripped away.

REFERENCES

AP News. (2025, August 5). Philippines condemns China’s rocket launch after suspected debris sparked alarm. https://apnews.com/article/

Bale, R. (2016, August 29). One of the World’s Biggest Fisheries Is on the Verge of Collapse. National Geographic. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/

Bworldonline. (2025, August 6). PHL military launches air and sea search for Chinese rocket debris near Palawan province. https://www.bworldonline.com/the-nation/

Esguerra, D. (2025, August 6). PH alarmed as China rocket debris falls on local waters. Philippine News Agency. https://www.pna.gov.ph/

Dumalag G and Ticke, G. (2025, August). Falling debris feared as China launches rocket near Palawan. Inquirer. https://www.inquirer.net/

Larioza, M. (2024, April 4). Timeline of Chinese Harassment of Second Thomas Shoal Resupply Missions. USNI News. https://news.usni.org/

Mendoza, E. (2025, March 4). West PH Sea: Navy slams ‘absurd, baseless’ China social media claim on Palawan. Inquirer. https://www.inquirer.net/