Native Arkansan, Retired State Department diplomat, wife, mom, daughter. This is my personal account.
Arlington, VA
Joined November 2009
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MaryKay Loss Carlson retweeted
Same tactics PRC keeps using again and again. Clearly it ran out of fresh ideas, hence scraping the bottom of its coercive toolkit. It’ll keep repeating these, Manila needs to hang on there while trying to think ahead and preempt Beijing’s narrative as proactively as possible.
China CG rams BFAR vessel on fuel subsidy mission for Filipino fishermen — 54 NM off Palawan
This morning, 18 September 2026, China Coast Guard vessel CCG-21585 rammed BRP Datu Magat Salamat (MMOV 3015), the same BFAR vessel the Philippine Coast Guard assisted yesterday as it carried out its maritime patrol to deliver fuel subsidy to our fishermen.
The sequence of events are as follows:
At 11:04 AM, CCG-21585 cut across the stern of the BFAR vessel at a distance of only about 10 meters.
At 11:13 AM, while MMOV 3015 was simply maintaining its course, the Chinese vessel repeated the maneuver and this time made contact, striking the BFAR vessel.
As of 11:48 AM, the extent of the damage on the starboard side has been confirmed: main railings bent, broken, and detached; metal stanchions and support structures deformed; and deck fixtures and equipment displaced, with debris scattered across the deck.
Even after the collision, CCG-21585 conducted yet another dangerous maneuver, passing dead astern at a distance of only about 5 meters.
This took place at 09°34.445'N, 116°53.714'E — approximately 6.36 NM NNW of Abad Santos Shoal and only about 54 NM from the coast of Palawan — well within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.
PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan has already directed PCG surface and air assets to proceed to the location of the BFAR vessel to provide assistance and ensure the safety of its crew.
Let us be clear about what this vessel was doing: it was bringing fuel to Filipino fishermen so they can keep fishing in our own waters and keep food on Filipino tables. The China Coast Guard deliberately rammed a civilian government vessel on a humanitarian and livelihood mission, endangering the lives of its Filipino crew.
These actions are a blatant violation of the 1972 COLREGs, the 2016 Arbitral Award, and UNCLOS. No amount of ramming or dangerous maneuvering will change the fact that these waters belong to the Filipino people.
The PCG will continue to support BFAR's missions in the West Philippine Sea, in accordance with the guidance of the President to ensure that our fishermen can safely exercise their rights in our own exclusive economic zone.
MaryKay Loss Carlson retweeted
We STRONGLY CONDEMN the China Coast Guard’s DELIBERATE RAMMING of the Philippine BFAR vessel near Bombay Shoal, just 54 miles off the coast of Palawan. We commend the sustained professionalism of our Philippine Allies in the face of this dangerous, destabilizing act.
MaryKay Loss Carlson retweeted
As US Ambassador to NATO on 9/11, the first to call me to suggest we invoke Article 5 was Canadian Ambassador David Wright. Our allies came to our rescue that terrible day. I’ll call David this morning 25 years later to thank him and our great neighbor Canada once again!
September 1 already?!
Time to dust off “Kumukutikutitap” and officially welcome the 🇵🇭 holiday season! Maligayang Ber Months, Pilipinas! 🎄 🎶✨
MaryKay Loss Carlson retweeted
Chinese ships fired a water cannon at Philippine vessels, including one carrying a CNN crew, near a dangerous flashpoint in the South China Sea on Friday – the third tense confrontation this week in the contested waters. cnn.it/4yJ1Rhs
Celebrating 🎉 the Philippines Desk team as they close out their tours — tireless champions of the 🇺🇸🤝🇵🇭 Alliance. Honored to have worked alongside you. Mabuhay!
ALT Selfie taken by Carlson at an outdoor DC restaurant with members of the State Department Philippines desk.
MaryKay Loss Carlson retweeted
👁️Look for 🇨🇳#China to try to leverage this incident to try to squeeze concessions out of the 🇵🇭#Philippines. Among China's favorite #grayzone tactics is to escalate a situation and then offer to de-escalate in exchange for something else it wants.
'WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT’
WATCH: Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan said the Philippines and China will discuss the status of their provisional arrangement on Ayungin Shoal.
The envoy said both sides will review how the arrangement has been implemented and urged Manila to comply with its terms.
“We will see what happens next,” Jing said when asked whether the provisional arrangement would remain in place. | @TristanNodalo
MaryKay Loss Carlson retweeted
You did "verify and monitor" but that's certainly not amounting to "permission" as you claimed. 🙃
On July 21, China permitted the Philippines, on humanitarian grounds, to transfer the injured personnel from the illegally grounded warship BRP Sierra Madre (LT-57) at Ren'ai Jiao to a Philippine Coast Guard vessel, with the Philippine boats involved being verified and monitored throughout the operation.
#中国海警公布全程监管菲转运伤员现场画面
#ChinaCoastGuard #CCG
#RenaiJiao #SouthChinaSea
#RenaiReef #NanshaIslands
#PhilippineProvocation
#Philippines #PCG
#NanshaQundao
#PhilippineNavy #AFP
#BRPSierraMadre
#SierraMadre
#ChinaMilitary #ChinaMilBugle
MaryKay Loss Carlson retweeted
The United States condemns China’s dangerous and escalatory actions at Second Thomas Shoal on July 20 that injured a Philippine servicemember serving on the BRP Sierra Madre.
ALT Ambassador Lee Lipton's statement on China Coast Guard’s Escalatory Actions at Second Thomas Shoal.
READ: AFP Statement on the Aggressive Actions of China Coast Guard in Ayungin Shoal
#AFPyoucanTRUST
#OneAFPOnePhilippines
#StrongAFPStrongPhilippines
#OurSeasOurRightsOurFuture
#MatatagNaSandigan📷📷
MaryKay Loss Carlson retweeted
ASEAN states surrounding the South China Sea that have REJECTED the nine-dash line:
🇮🇩 Indonesia
🇲🇾 Malaysia
🇵🇭 Philippines
🇻🇳 Vietnam
Other countries that have REJECTED the nine-dash line:
🇦🇺 Australia
🇦🇹 Austria
🇧🇪 Belgium
🇧🇬 Bulgaria
🇨🇦 Canada
🇭🇷 Croatia
🇨🇾 Cyprus
🇨🇿 Czech Republic
🇩🇰 Denmark
🇪🇪 Estonia
🇫🇮 Finland
🇫🇷 France
🇩🇪 Germany
🇬🇷 Greece
🇭🇺 Hungary
🇮🇳 India
🇮🇪 Ireland
🇮🇹 Italy
🇯🇵 Japan
🇱🇻 Latvia
🇱🇹 Lithuania
🇱🇺 Luxembourg
🇲🇹 Malta
🇳🇱 Netherlands
🇳🇿 New Zealand
🇵🇱 Poland
🇵🇹 Portugal
🇷🇴 Romania
🇸🇰 Slovakia
🇸🇮 Slovenia
🇪🇸 Spain
🇸🇪 Sweden
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
🇺🇸 United States
Countries that have accepted the nine-dash line:
🇨🇳 China
[Nothing follows]
#SouthChinaSea #WestPhilippineSea #ArbitralAward
MaryKay Loss Carlson retweeted
Beijing's refusal to accept the 2016 arbitral award, which was the outcome of the proceedings convened under UNCLOS to which the PRC is a State Party, poses a major obstacle to regional stability.
#Opinion: Manila’s heavy reliance on the so-called 2016 “award” as its primary legal and political weapon has turned it into a major obstacle to regional stability. The Philippines’ approach not only warps the legal picture but also chokes off prospects for meaningful dialogue. By internationalizing the disputes and trying to lock in a one-sided reading, the Philippines has made practical risk reduction and crisis management that much harder.
globaltimes.cn/page/202607/1…
MaryKay Loss Carlson retweeted
We share the Philippines’ concerns about China's ballistic missile test launches and remain committed to our oldest security Ally in the region. #FreeAndOpenIndoPacific
ALT Ambassador Lee Lipton's statement on China’s test launch of a Nuclear Capable Ballistic Missile into the Pacific Ocean.
#DNDPHL shares the concern about China’s recent ballistic missile test in the South Pacific, a reckless display of military power that shows little regard for smaller countries and the fragile ecological systems that sustain their people.
Full statement 👇
Congratulations, @USAmbPH Lipton! It was an honor to meet with you in DC prior to your departure. I know you and Erika will #LoveThePhilippines as much as my family and I do! Best. Job. Ever! Thanks to our strong ties as #FriendsPartnersAllies! 🇺🇸❤️🇸🇽
It is an honor to present my credentials to Pres. @BongbongMarcos and start working with #FriendsPartnersAllies to deepen 🇺🇸-🇵🇭 ties. We can deliver concrete benefits for our countries – safer communities, a stronger defense Alliance, and more prosperous Americans and Filipinos.
ALT Ambassador Lee Lipton, accompanied by his wife Erika Lipton, and President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. shaking hands.
Yikes! Should never post jet lagged at night. Especially without my glasses! 🇵🇭🇵🇭🇵🇭🇵🇭🇵🇭🇵🇭🇵🇭🇵🇭🇵🇭🇵🇭🇵🇭🇵🇭🇵🇭🇵🇭🇵🇭🇵🇭
Congratulations, @USAmbPH Lipton! It was an honor to meet with you in DC prior to your departure. I know you and Erika will #LoveThePhilippines as much as my family and I do! Best. Job. Ever! Thanks to our strong ties as #FriendsPartnersAllies! 🇺🇸❤️🇸🇽
Even on the Channel Island of Jersey, Filipinos represent with 🌏-renowned hospitality, in this particular case, running the island’s mini-golf course. I may not have won at golf, but I scored in connecting with these lovely young kababayans from Manila and Ilocos Norte! 🇺🇸⛳️🇵🇭
MaryKay Loss Carlson retweeted
Enduring Partnerships. Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, spoke on the strength of the U.S.-Philippine alliance at the 128th Anniversary of Philippine Independence in Honolulu, June 13, 2026, honoring freedom, future, and history.
#USNavy #PacificFleet
MaryKay Loss Carlson retweeted
I assure my closeness to the people of the Philippines, struck a few days ago by a powerful earthquake. I pray for the deceased and their families, for the wounded, and for all those suffering because of this disaster.
MaryKay Loss Carlson retweeted
Beijing accuses us of “hyping.” Let us be precise about what actually happened. We observed a structure inside Bajo de Masinloc. We documented it, dated it, geolocated it, and released the aerial imagery to the public. That is not hype — that is transparency. And transparency is only threatening to the party that has something to hide.
To “hype” something is to exaggerate or invent it. We did neither. The imagery speaks for itself, and we put it in front of the Filipino people, the region, and the international community precisely so that no one has to take our word for it — or Beijing’s. The fact that China’s instinct is to attack the reporting rather than explain the structure tells you everything. What is irresponsible is not a coast guard doing its job and informing the public. What is irresponsible is the unilateral placement of structures in another country’s exclusive economic zone, in open defiance of the 2016 Arbitral Award — and then calling the act of documenting it a provocation.
And there is a reason we cannot simply accept Beijing’s description of these as “normal activities.” We have heard this before. When the People’s Republic of China first occupied Mischief Reef in 1995, it assured the world that the structures it was putting up were nothing more than shelters for its fishermen. Today, Mischief Reef is a fully militarized artificial island — runway, hangars, radar, missile capabilities — sitting squarely inside the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. The “fishermen’s shelter” was the cover story.
So when China waves away the structure at Bajo de Masinloc as “normal,” it is asking the region to forget its own record. That is precisely why these actions cannot be taken at face value.
If China genuinely wants to be believed, there is a simple way to show it: pull out. Remove the platform, halt the installation of buoys/communication towers, and respect the 2016 Arbitral Award and waters that are legally ours. Anything less only confirms the pattern — that China’s assurances at Bajo de Masinloc today are worth exactly what its word at Mischief Reef proved to be three decades ago.
The choice belongs to Beijing. It can preserve what little good faith the region and the international community still extend to it, or it can keep proving why that trust was misplaced to begin with.
Happy Independence Day! 🇺🇸🤝🇵🇭
Wishing our #FriendsPartnersAllies a happy Independence Day. 2026 marks a special year for our countries as we observe #USPH80, eighty years of diplomatic relations. Maligayang Araw ng Kalayaan! #Kalayaan2026