9 May Istanbul: Marital tensions in the South China Sea are again heightening after an encounter early this week between Chinese and Filipino naval vessels off Scarborough Shoal, a vital maritime area claimed by both countries.
On Thursday, China also said it had “expelled” a Filipino warship out of what it referred to as its territorial waters. In response, the Philippines made grave accusations against Chinese vessels, alleging they had made “aggressive and unsafe maneuvers” that threatened its patrol ship, the BRP Emilio Jacinto.
The encounter occurred on Monday, about 12 nautical miles away from the disputed shoal, which China calls Huangyan Dao and the world knows as Scarborough Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc. Filipino authorities reported that one Chinese vessel followed their ship at close range, while another intercepted it, increasing the possibility of a head-on collision. The BRP Emilio Jacinto was on a routine maritime patrol, the Philippine military said.
In a sternly worded statement, the Armed Forces of the Philippines denounced the Chinese actions as “irresponsible” and warned that they might cause misunderstandings that could destabilize the region.
China’s own account of events, though, was dramatically at odds. Speaking for the People’s Liberation Army’s Southern Theater Command, Senior Colonel Tian Junli stated the Filipino vessel had intruded into what Beijing believes to be its waters illegally and was thus “lawfully expelled.” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian went further, accusing Manila of “getting right and wrong confused” and creating instability with repeated sea invasions.
Beijing also shared a map placing the Filipino ship just over 12 nautical miles from the disputed island, aiming to bolster its territorial claim.
In a concurrent development, China accused a Japanese fishing boat of illegally intruding into waters off the Diaoyu Islands (Senkaku Islands in Japan) on Wednesday and Thursday. The China Coast Guard said it had issued warnings and taken “necessary control measures” to drive down the boat. Chinese officials called on Japan to end all “illegal activities” in the disputed area.
With tensions escalating on two fronts, fears of maritime security and regional peace in East and Southeast Asia remain to escalate.
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