11-2-2024 (MANILA) The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has accused Chinese vessels of engaging in “dangerous” maneuvers during a nine-day patrol near Scarborough Shoal, a disputed reef off the coast of the Philippines.
The Philippine vessel BRP Teresa Magbanua was deployed in early February to patrol the waters around Scarborough Shoal, which is a significant fishing ground in the South China Sea. The purpose of the patrol was to ensure the safety of Filipino fishermen in the area.
Scarborough Shoal has been a contentious issue between the two countries since China seized control of it from the Philippines in 2012. Since then, Beijing has stationed patrol boats that Manila claims harass Philippine vessels and prevent Filipino fishermen from accessing the lagoon where fish are abundant.
According to a statement by the Philippine Coast Guard, Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessels engaged in dangerous and obstructive maneuvers against the BRP Teresa Magbanua on four occasions. The CCG vessels crossed the bow of the PCG vessel twice, posing a threat to its safety. The PCG ship was also closely followed by four Chinese Coast Guard vessels on more than 40 occasions. The coast guard also observed the presence of four Chinese Maritime Militia vessels.
The Chinese embassy in Manila has not yet responded to the accusations.
Scarborough Shoal is located 240km west of the Philippines’ main island of Luzon and nearly 900km from the nearest major Chinese land mass, Hainan.
Under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, countries have jurisdiction over the natural resources within approximately 200 nautical miles or 370km off their shores.
In addition to the patrol, the Philippine Coast Guard distributed food and groceries to 100 Filipino fishermen who were operating in 14 boats in the area.
These incidents come after recent tense standoffs between China and the Philippines around disputed reefs in the South China Sea, which involved collisions between vessels and Chinese ships using water cannons against Philippine boats.
China claims almost the entire South China Sea, disregarding an international tribunal ruling that declared its assertions to have no legal basis. The country has deployed boats to patrol the region and has constructed artificial islands, which it has militarized to reinforce its claims.
Chinese and Philippine officials agreed last month on the need for closer dialogue to address “maritime emergencies” in the disputed waters.
