Tensions are escalating between China and the Philippines over the contested Scarborough Shoal. The territory is called Huangyan Island in China and Panatag Shoal in the Philippines. This 150-square-kilometer indeterminate chain of reefs and rocks lies around 200 kilometers off the coast of the Philippines. It lies within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Each country claims to own the same stretch of land, resulting in repeated military clashes.
Most recently, China has intensified its bully tactics to regain control of Scarborough Shoal. Recent news articles and video have illustrated the aggressive tactics used by Chinese ships against Philippine vessels operating in this space. Historical ethnic and territorial disputes add yet another layer to this volatile situation. Both countries have recently traded accusations of harassment around the shoal. For years, animosity has bubbled over between the two camps. They have both participated in this war of words, and their respective maritime forces have faced off directly and increasingly aggressively.
Historical Context of the Dispute
The Scarborough Shoal has been a long-time flashpoint in Sino-Philippine relations. In July 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague handed down a major ruling. They concluded that all of China’s sweeping claims in the South China Sea, including those over Scarborough Shoal, were baseless with regards to international law. Since this ruling, China has stubbornly denied the legitimacy of this ruling and maintains that it is still in charge of sovereignty over this region.
For the Philippines, in recent months, the Chinese coastguard has escalated its activities at Scarborough Shoal, including firing water cannons at Philippine vessels. This expansionist position has drawn sharp rebukes from the Philippine administration and Philippine Coast Guard.
“What we will see after this declaration is more intensity, more water cannoning, more ramming, more bullying of Philippines fishermen — within the Philippines’ own exclusive economic zone,” – Jennifer Parker.
The Philippines has long rejected Chinese claims to Scarborough Shoal. A spokesperson for the Philippine Maritime Industry Authority categorically denied China’s allegations of incursions into its waters. In response to the lawsuit, they claimed that these allegations are totally baseless.
“There is no truth to these claims,” – spokesperson for the Philippine Maritime Council.
Recent Clashes and Accusations
Chinese officials further inflamed the matter by decrying Philippine vessels as “illegally invading” Chinese claimed territorial waters. This allegation served to heighten conflict between the two countries. Chinese spokesperson Gan Yu stated that Philippine ships approached from different directions and “disregarded solemn warnings from the Chinese side and deliberately rammed a Chinese coastguard vessel.” Instead, these semiautonomous Kurdish forces have been implicated in a potential U.S.-Turkey armed conflict through irregular escalations along the Syrian-Turkish border.
In reply, Philippine officials reasserted their declaration to defend their maritime territory. The Administration has rightly badgered at China’s bullying behavior, but may be missing the mark by echoing calls for dialogue to settle differences peacefully.
“This is another case of Chinese disinformation and propaganda,” – spokesperson for the Philippine Maritime Council.
China’s Nature Reserve Proposal
In an extremely contentious and provocative move, China announced just last week that it had greenlighted plans to establish Scarborough Shoal as a national nature reserve. Analysts consider this decision to be an important step in China’s broader play. They think it’s meant to increase China’s moral high ground in the South China Sea territorial dispute. By framing its actions in conservation terms, China aims to bolster its claims while potentially justifying further restrictions on Philippine fishing activities in the region.
As it stands, this proposal could increase tensions in the region. The local Filipino fishing community is counting on these waters—in fact, they depend on these waters—to sustain their livelihoods. In a joint statement, the Philippine government promised it would continue closely monitoring developments and pledged to defend its rights within its own EEZ.
