25-1-2025 (MANILA) In a significant escalation of tensions in the South China Sea, Philippine authorities were forced to abandon a planned scientific survey near Thitu Island following what they described as dangerous harassment by Chinese maritime forces on 25 January 2025.
The incident involved three Chinese Coast Guard vessels and four support boats that reportedly conducted aggressive manoeuvres against two Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources vessels. The Philippine research team had intended to conduct marine studies and collect sand samples from a nearby sandbar.
In what maritime experts are calling a concerning development, a Chinese naval helicopter was reported hovering at dangerously low altitudes above Philippine vessels, creating hazardous conditions with its downdraft. The proximity of the Chinese aircraft to the Philippine research boats raised serious safety concerns, prompting the immediate suspension of the scientific mission.
Thitu Island, which lies a mere 430 kilometres from Palawan, Philippines, but more than 900 kilometres from China’s Hainan Island, has become a focal point in the ongoing territorial dispute. The island’s strategic location, coupled with China’s military presence at the nearby Subi Reef, has made it a frequent flashpoint for maritime confrontations.
The failed research mission coincided with a separate Philippine military resupply operation at Second Thomas Shoal, where Manila maintains a presence via a deliberately grounded naval vessel. Unlike the research mission, this routine rotation of troops proceeded without interference.
This latest maritime confrontation follows recent concerns raised by Manila regarding Chinese Coast Guard patrols near Luzon, the Philippines’ largest island. Philippine officials have characterised these patrols as intimidation tactics aimed at deterring local fishing activities, though Beijing maintains its actions comply with international law.
