A chilling warning was made by the Philippines' former foreign affairs chief Albert del Rosario this week, as he said the country should be vigilant of both the threat of China and the coronavirus pandemic. It comes after China announced the establishment of new districts in the disputed waters of the South China Sea, as well as Beijing's sinking of a Vietnamese boat. Mr Rosario said in a statement: “These recent events in the South China Sea remind us Filipinos to be eternally vigilant in the defence of our country’s territory and sovereign rights even as we confront a very grave threat as COVID-19.