Tension Behind the Great Wall

Tension behind China’s walls

Chinaphilippine troubled waters

Tension behind China’s walls escalated between Beijing and Manila after a collision between boats in a disputed maritime area. In the background of this incident, the dynamic confrontation between the United States and China in the Pacific Ocean is felt.

A fierce dispute between China and the Philippines accusing each other of a confrontation between two boats in the South China Sea.

This incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday near Sabina Shoal, a coral island in the northeastern part of the Spratly Islands, one of the most disputed island groups in the world due to its geostrategic and geoeconomic value.

The dispute between China and the Philippines over this area reflects geopolitical tensions in the region.

Sabina Shoal is a region rich in natural resources claimed by both countries.

China claims sovereignty based on historical maps, while the Philippines claims control based on geographical proximity and international laws.

In this regard, Manila can particularly warm up to US support to counter China’s ambitions.

This dispute with Beijing is actually just one part of a broader regional chessboard where the US is playing to contain China, a game that was initiated by the Barack Obama administration and has been endorsed with necessary exceptions by both subsequent presidents, Donald Trump and Joe Biden.

Exchange of accusations

China’s coast guard stated in a release that a Filipino vessel intentionally collided in an unprofessional and dangerous manner with a Chinese ship after disregarding repeated warnings.

The Philippines countered Beijing’s narrative, saying that two Manila coast guard ships were confronted by aggressive and unlawful maneuvers by Chinese vessels near the Sabina Shoal, known in Filipino as Ayungin Shoal and in Chinese as Xianbin Jiao, as they were en route to resupply Filipino military personnel stationed on Flat Island.

Authorities in Manila said the initial collision between a Filipino fishing boat Cape Engan and a Chinese coast guard vessel occurred around 3:24 AM on Tuesday, and about 16 minutes later the Filipino coast guard vessel was struck twice by another Chinese coast guard vessel, causing minor structural damage. Beijing’s coast guard has also released a short video of the incident, showing the collision with what they claim is one of their boats.

Disputed Waters

Despite the dynamic nature of maritime accidents and collisions, shedding light on them is often very difficult. Surely, this incident is not different or unique from others.

Just ten days ago, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. strongly condemned Beijing as two Chinese fighter jets reportedly fired flares during a routine flyby near a Philippine aircraft.

The incident took place on Tuesday in the Spratly Islands, which are claimed simultaneously by China, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam.

Therefore, the dispute between China and the Philippines over the Spratly Islands is part of a broader territorial dispute in the South China Sea, one of the most disputed regions in the world.

This area is strategically important not only because it is located on major shipping routes but also due to natural resources such as gas and oil reserves and rich marine biodiversity.

Beijing bases its claims on what is known as the nine-dash line, identified on a map dating back to 1947, asserting its sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea.

Therefore, the People’s Republic seeks to strengthen its presence in the region by constructing artificial islands and military bases.

In contrast, the Philippines claims that Sabah Shoal is part of its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and emphasizes the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). It obtained a favorable ruling in this regard from the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague in 2016. However, China rejected this ruling and continued to enhance its presence in the region.

A Broader Confrontation

Therefore, the unresolved dispute remains and continues to pose a threat to stability in the region.

The Philippines has oscillated between confrontational and diplomatic approaches towards China under different governments.

Tensions have escalated recently with maritime incidents like the one on Tuesday and heated diplomatic exchanges.

It should be remembered that tension in the South China Sea is part of the broader rivalry between the United States and China in the Pacific Ocean.

Manila, along with Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea, is part of a unity circle that Washington uses to contain China. This strategy includes strengthening alliances with Asian-Pacific countries and Australia through economic and security cooperation.

Furthermore, the United States conducts joint military maneuvers, has a significant naval and air presence in the region, and supports freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.

The goal of this strategy is to counter China’s land and military ambitions, maintain power balance, and protect the interests of the US and its allies in the Pacific Ocean.

Tensions between China and the Philippines over disputed coral islands in the South China Sea persist.

For months, the intensity of conflicts between the two countries has been increasing.

China almost claims sovereignty over the entire South China Sea, and acts accordingly, even sending its coast guard and fishing vessels to areas that are considered the territorial waters of other countries under international laws.

As a result, Beijing’s behavior has brought Manila closer to Washington.

In April 2023, Marcus granted US forces access to four other bases in the Philippines, which subsequently faced criticism from Beijing.

Although we witnessed Trump’s particular disinterest in Asian partners and increased tensions with China, Biden had to try to maintain this relationship despite the stormy relations between Beijing and Washington. However, the goal was to strengthen cooperation with allies in Asia.

The renewed interest of the United States in the Indian Ocean and the Pacific region worries Beijing, as it is displeased with the presence of US military personnel in the South China Sea and especially around Taiwan, an island that remains a hotspot for geopolitical tensions in the region.