South China Sea Tensions: China’s military and coast guard carried out combat-readiness patrols near Scarborough Shoal, while the Philippines said Beijing’s claims of drills were “completely unfounded,” keeping the flashpoint hot after recent US-Philippine exercises. Regional Defence Posture: At Shangri-La Dialogue, the Philippines framed itself as a “guardian” of freedom of the seas, while Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro warned the country remains under “severe threat” from China. Undersea Security Pact: Seventeen countries, including Brunei, launched GUIDE to protect critical underwater cables and energy infrastructure, with Singapore stressing the need for shared norms and faster joint responses. BrahMos Missile Deals: India’s defence chief said Vietnam’s BrahMos agreement is already signed (not yet publicly announced) and Indonesia’s is in the final stages, as regional buyers line up. Brunei Business: Inchcape Shipping Services opened a new Brunei office to support offshore, navy-related, and logistics operations. Local Sports (Malaysia/Brunei link): Malaysia’s U-19 ASEAN Cup squad includes players from JDT and Brunei is in the same group, with Malaysia set to face Brunei early in June.