菲律宾7月31日向联合国秘书处递交了民主礁及周边海域的官方海图，并划设领海基线 [1]。中国外交部随即表示坚决反对，称菲律宾的举动"严重侵犯中国领土主权，严重违反《联合国宪章》、《联合国海洋法公约》等国际法，是非法的、无效的" [1]。
中国共军南部战区8月1日公告在民主礁领海、领空和周边海空域组织海空联合演训作为反制 [1]。此前一天，共军南部战区7月30日已在黄岩岛领海领空及周边区域组织战备警巡 [1]。
这一系列军事活动发生在7月下旬南海发生摩擦的背景下。当时菲国指责中国海警船发射水炮，中国则反控菲国船只蓄意冲撞 [1]。
The Philippines submitted an official maritime chart to the United Nations on July 31, establishing a territorial sea baseline around Democracy Reef (Scarborough Shoal).[1] In response, China's Foreign Ministry immediately rejected the action, stating that the Philippines' move "seriously infringes on China's territorial sovereignty" and "seriously violates the UN Charter and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and other international law," declaring it "illegal and invalid."[1]
The Chinese military's Southern Theater Command announced on August 1 that it would conduct joint naval and air exercises in the waters and airspace surrounding the reef as a countermeasure.[1] The command characterized the drills as aimed at "safeguarding national territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests."[1] This followed a separate combat readiness patrol organized by the Southern Theater Command in the same area on July 30.[1] The escalation comes amid earlier tensions in late July, when the Philippines accused Chinese coast guard vessels of deploying water cannons, while China countered that Philippine ships deliberately rammed Chinese vessels.[1]