4-12-2024 (BEIJING) Fresh tensions erupted in the disputed South China Sea on Wednesday as Chinese authorities blocked four Philippine vessels from entering waters around Scarborough Shoal, escalating an already fraught maritime dispute between the two nations.
The Chinese Coast Guard reported that four Philippine vessels attempted to enter what Beijing considers its territorial waters near Huangyan Island, the Chinese name for Scarborough Shoal. Chinese officials characterised the Philippine presence as an intrusion, prompting immediate defensive measures.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) painted a markedly different picture, describing their mission as a routine maritime patrol to protect local Filipino fishermen. They reported aggressive interventions by Chinese forces, including water cannon attacks and dangerous manoeuvres by both Coast Guard and People’s Liberation Army Navy vessels.
In what Manila described as a particularly concerning incident, a Chinese vessel allegedly fired water cannons twice at a Philippine boat before executing a deliberate sideswipe. Philippine officials detailed how their vessels faced systematic harassment, including blocking tactics and dangerous approaches, with one Chinese vessel coming as close as 300 yards.
The confrontation follows recent legislative moves by both nations to strengthen their territorial claims. The Philippines recently enacted the Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act and Maritime Zones Act, establishing firmer legal grounds for its maritime boundaries. Beijing swiftly condemned these measures as an infringement of Chinese sovereignty.
