China, Philippines’ dispute over grounded warship heats up

China once more requested the Philippines to tow away a grounded warship – a World War Two-era vessel now used as a navy outpost – from a disputed shoal on Tuesday, after Manila rejected Beijing’s earlier demand.

Tensions have soared between the 2 neighbours over the South China Sea beneath Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, with Manila pivoting again to the United States, which helps the Southeast Asian nation in its maritime disputes with China.

China’s embassy in Manila criticised Washington for “gathering” its allies to proceed “hyping up” the South China Sea problem and the boat incident.

“South China Sea is not a ‘safari park’ for countries outside the region to make mischief and sow discord,” the embassy stated in a press release on Tuesday.

The Second Thomas Shoal, which lies inside the Philippines unique financial zone, is dwelling to a handful of troops dwelling aboard the previous warship Sierra Madre. Manila intentionally grounded the vessel in 1999 to bolster its sovereignty claims.

Manila has repeatedly accused the Chinese coastguard of blocking resupply missions to its troops there, because it did on Aug. 5 when it sprayed a Philippine vessel with a water cannon.

China maintains the Philippines’ occupation of the shoal is prohibited.

The Philippine navy described the Chinese coastguard’s actions on Saturday as “excessive and offensive”. China stated the incident was a “warning” and that it has exercised “rational restraint” always.

China’s defence ministry on Tuesday urged Manila to cease all “provocative” actions, and vowed to proceed taking needed measures to safeguard sovereignty and maritime rights.

CONTROL

Security specialists say China’s actions across the atoll level to 1 factor – Beijing needs to take management of Second Thomas Shoal, additionally identified in China as Renai Reef, and Ayungin in Manila.

“We must reestablish sea control around the shoal because if we don’t control it, our resupply is vulnerable to their coercive tactics,” stated Rommel Ong, a maritime safety skilled and retired vice commander of the Philippine Navy.

China claims sovereignty over virtually all the South China Sea, which overlaps with the unique financial zones of Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei, Taiwan and the Philippines.

Both Ong and Collin Koh, a safety fellow at Singapore’s S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, consider China would suppose twice about utilizing outright pressure to occupy the shoal lest it triggers a 1951 U.S.-Philippines mutual defence treaty.

“There’s probably no question about whether China has the means to up the ante here, but more about its willingness over those political risks,” stated Koh.

Jonathan Malaya, assistant director common of the Philippines National Security Council, urged China “not to escalate matters” and put lives in danger.

Japan and France, via their embassies in Manila, have expressed concern over China’s current actions and repeated their assist for a 2016 arbitral ruling that invalidated Beijing’s expansive South China Sea claims.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with Philippines Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro on Tuesday to debate the alliance between the 2 international locations, the Pentagon stated.

Published On:

Aug 9, 2023