Philippines confronts China over disputed shoal, vows not to back down

In response to China’s attempt to bar Filipino fishermen from a hotly contested shoal in the South China Sea, the Philippines promised on Tuesday that it would not back down, while Beijing issued a warning to the Southeast Asian country not to “provoke and cause trouble.”

The remarks were made a day after Manila sent coastguard troops disguised as fisherman in a small boat to break a floating 300-m (980-ft) barrier put up by Beijing at the shoal, one of Asia’s most contentious marine features.

The action, which was described as a “special operation” by the Philippines, may further erode relations that have already been worse this year.

“They might still return the floating barrier once again, they might still do shadowing and dangerous maneouvres once again,” Philippine coastguard spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela told CNN Philippines.

Earlier he said four Chinese vessels were in the area when a Philippine ship approached and were “not that aggressive”, adding it was clear media were on board the Philippine ship.

He claimed that China’s coastguard had even removed the broken ball-buoy barrier’s remains and had reacted calmly to the presence of its warship, which had been the closest to the vital atoll since China had taken control of it in 2012.

The Filipino people have demonstrated to the rest of the world that they will not back down, and Tarriela declared that they would continue to do whatever it would take to keep them in the world.

Years of intermittent arguments about sovereignty have taken place in the Scarborough Shoal, a prime fishing location 200 km (124 miles) off the coast of the Philippines and within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

China has accused the Philippines of “intruding” into waters that were unquestionably Chinese and named the rocky outcrop Huangyan Island. On Tuesday, it warned Manila to steer clear of provocations.

“China firmly upholds the sovereignty and maritime rights of Huangyan Island, and we advise the Philippines side not to provoke and cause trouble,” foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin told a regular press briefing.

China and the Philippines have fought over the shoal numerous times, although under the previous pro-China administration in Manila, hostilities have subsided.

However, relations have worsened this year as new President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who gave the order to dissolve the cordon, tries to improve ties with ally the United States.

As part of these efforts, the Philippine bases were opened up to the U.S. military, a decision China denounced as provocative and likely to inflame regional instability.

This year, the two nations’ vessels have clashed many times in the Philippine EEZ.

Beijing’s coastguard has been charged by Manila with risky and aggressive behaviour, including employing a military-grade laser to thwart resupply missions for troops stationed on a rusted, grounded cruiser.

According to China, occupation is forbidden.

An analyst claimed on Monday that Philippine decision-makers were working under the sway of a United States determined to start wars in order to restrict Beijing, according to the Chinese government-run tabloid the Global Times.

Beijing is sensitive about who controls the shoal, which is around 850 km (528 miles) off the coast of China. For the past ten years, coastguard ships and fishing boats have been stationed there continuously.

The shoal was a key element in a case the Philippines brought before the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague, which found in 2016 that China’s claim to the majority of the South China Sea lacked legal support.

The ruling is not recognised in China.

(With agency inputs)