Tensions flared again with the Philippines just two days after China submitted a statement and a maritime map to the United Nations (UN) asserting its claim over the Scarborough Shoal (Huangyan Island) in the South China Sea, a contested area involving several Southeast Asian nations.
According to diplomatic sources in Beijing on Thursday, the Philippine Coast Guard and the Department of Fisheries recently reported aggressive actions by the Chinese Navy and Coast Guard during their regular patrols near Scarborough Shoal. They claimed, “The Chinese coast guard fired water cannons at the Philippine patrol vessel, hitting its side. The water cannon targeted the navigation antenna.” If true, the tensions between the two countries surrounding Scarborough Shoal have indeed escalated as expected.
While China acknowledged the collision, it strongly refuted the Philippines’ unilateral claims. The Chinese side stated, “Philippine vessels, including the coast guard and fishing boats, violated our territorial waters at Huangyan Island. During this process, the Philippine vessel 3003 ignored serious warnings and intentionally collided with the Chinese Coast Guard vessel 3302 while abruptly changing direction and reversing.”
Liu Dejun, a spokesperson for the Chinese Coast Guard, dismissed the Philippines’ accusations as “provocations disguised as fishing activities” and urged Manila to stop “manipulative incitements.” However, drone footage released by the Philippines reportedly shows no evidence of their vessel reversing, raising further questions about the incident.
Geng Shuang, China’s deputy envoy to the UN, submitted a maritime map on Monday to UN Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs Stephen Mathias that includes Scarborough Shoal as part of its territorial waters. This action followed last month’s declaration of the territorial baseline around Scarborough Shoal, marking an official assertion to the international community that the South China Sea is part of China’s territorial waters. Naturally, concerns about escalating conflicts with neighboring Southeast Asian countries like the Philippines had risen.
The Chinese government announced the “Huangyan Island territorial baseline” on November 10, connecting sixteen points centered around Scarborough Shoal. This action seems to be a response to the Philippines’ recent leg. The Philippines does not include the South China Sea in its maritime zone law.
China claims sovereignty over about 90% of the South China Sea, inevitably leading to tensions with Southeast Asian countries like the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei. Physical clashes, including the use of water cannons, frequently result in damage to vessels and injuries. Therefore, it is not surprising that tensions are rising again.
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