Explosive Showdown: Philippines Exposes Chinese Vessels' Reckless Actions in Highly Disputed South China Sea
Amidst rising tensions, the Philippines alleges that Chinese vessels have engaged in perilous maneuvers in the contested South China Sea, escalating the longstanding maritime dispute between the neighboring nations
The Philippines has accused Chinese vessels of engaging in "risky maneuvers" in a contested section of the South China Sea, escalating tensions between the two neighboring countries. The Philippine coast guard, in a statement on Friday, revealed that during a routine rotation and resupply operation near Ayungin Shoal (Renai Reef in China), their vessels were approached by a fleet of eight Chinese boats.
The safety of the crew members aboard the Philippine vessels was allegedly compromised by the Chinese boats, although the specific details were not provided. The incident reportedly involved four Chinese coast guard vessels and four Chinese "maritime militia" boats. This occurrence occurred shortly after the Philippines accused Chinese coast guard ships of deploying water cannons towards their vessels while attempting to resupply troops stationed on the Spratly Islands chain, referred to as the Nansha Islands in China.
Western marine security experts suspect that Beijing exercises control over a significantly large maritime militia consisting of hundreds of vessels. This militia serves as an informal and deniable force employed by China to assert its territorial claims in the South China Sea and other regions. The Philippines asserts that this militia has played a role in the two latest incidents at Ayungin Shoal, alternatively recognized as Second Thomas Shoal.
China has never acknowledged that such a militia exists.
This photo, captured on April 23, 2023, showcases the grounded Philippine navy ship BRP Sierra Madre, which serves as a station for marines asserting Manila's territorial claims at Second Thomas Shoal in the disputed Spratly Islands of the South China Sea. AFP, along with other media outlets, was invited to accompany two Philippine Coast Guard boats on a 1,670-kilometer (1,040-mile) patrol of the South China Sea, visiting numerous islands and reefs. Beijing disregards an international ruling that declares its sovereignty claims over the vast majority of the South China Sea, including the Spratly Islands, as having no legal basis. The photo is credited to Ted Aljibe/AFP/Getty Images.
"Little blue men": Is an alleged militia, unrecognized by Beijing, causing disruptions in the South China Sea?
In response to the latest incident, the Philippine coast guard has contacted its Chinese counterpart, urging them to promptly halt any unlawful activities within the Philippines' maritime zones.
Beijing asserts its "indisputable sovereignty" over nearly all of the 1.3 million square mile South China Sea, including the majority of islands within it. This encompasses the Spratlys, an archipelago of 100 small islands and reefs that are also claimed, in whole or in part, by the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan.
However, Manila designates a portion of the area as the West Philippine Sea. In 1999, in order to assert its territorial claim, the Philippines deliberately grounded a navy transport ship called the BRP Sierra Madre on Second Thomas Shoal. This location is manned by Filipino marines.
The Chinese coast guard released a statement on Friday, in light of the recent confrontation, where they accused the Philippines of entering the area without authorization. The statement claimed that two Philippine supply ships and two coast guard ships ventured into the waters near Renai Reef in China's Nansha Islands without consent from the Chinese government.
China asserts its indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha Islands, including Renai Reef, along with the surrounding waters. We strongly oppose the Philippines' unlawful transportation of building materials to warships stationed illicitly on the beach. It is worth noting that the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague has supported Manila's territorial claims by ruling in 2016 that China lacks a legal foundation for claiming historical rights to most of the South China Sea.
Beijing has ignored the ruling and insists that the Philippines had promised to remove the vessel. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has said his government has never promised such a move.
