6-8-2023 (MANILA) Tensions escalated in the South China Sea on Sunday (Aug 6) as the Philippines accused China’s coast guard of obstructing and using water cannons against a Philippine military supply boat. The actions were condemned as “excessive and offensive” by the Philippines, raising concerns over regional stability.
China has long asserted its sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, a claim that has been widely rejected by the international community. The region is also contested by Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei, Taiwan, and the Philippines, each staking their own claims to specific areas.
China’s assertive maritime actions and its ongoing activities, such as building artificial islands equipped with military assets, have been a point of contention with its neighboring countries.
The recent incident involved a Chinese coast guard vessel blocking and water-cannoning a chartered Philippine boat that was on a routine troop rotation and resupply mission. The incident occurred near the Second Thomas Shoal, known as Ayungin Shoal to Manila. This submerged reef is home to a small group of Philippine troops stationed on a World War II-era US ship intentionally grounded there in 1999.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines condemned the Chinese coast guard’s actions, stating that they put the safety of those on board at risk and violated international law. The dangerous maneuvers hindered the unloading of supplies and completion of the mission.
The Chinese embassy in Manila has yet to respond to the accusations.
Calling for restraint and responsibility, the Philippine armed forces urged the China Coast Guard and the Central Military Commission to avoid miscalculations and accidents that could endanger lives.
The Philippine Coast Guard further criticized the Chinese actions, stating that they violated international laws, including two international conventions and a ruling from a global tribunal. The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled in 2016 that China’s expansive claims in the South China Sea lacked a legal basis. However, China has rejected the ruling and refuses to recognize any actions based on it.
In response to the incident, the US State Department voiced concern over China’s repeated threats to the status quo in the South China Sea, warning that such actions directly jeopardize regional peace and stability. The US reaffirmed its commitment to its Philippine allies, declaring that an armed attack on Philippine public vessels, aircraft, and armed forces in the South China Sea would trigger US mutual defense commitments under the 1951 US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty.
