Last month, Chinese and Philippine diplomats restarted political dialogue after more than a year. In the same week, China’s People’s Liberation Army bombers flew combat patrols over the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea. China also released a video marking the fifth anniversary of its coastguard law. The video highlights the coastguard’s legal role and shows scenes from a June 2024 clash between China and the Philippines. This mix of diplomacy and military moves reveals the complex tensions in the region.