Collisions, a blockade and mistrust have in recent weeks deepened the territorial row between China and the Philippines over what has become another South China Sea flashpoint.
For weeks, both countries have deployed coast guard ships at Sabina Shoal in the South China Sea, known in Manila as Escoda Shoal and in Beijing as Xianbin Reef.
Situated in the disputed Spratly Islands and 75 miles from the Philippines’ Palawan province, the uninhabited reef lies well within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ), where maritime law grants exclusive rights to natural resources.
Military cadets march in formation as they head to their mess hall at the Philippine Military Academy in Baguio City, north of Manila, on August 29. The Philippines under President Ferdinand Marcos has moved to strengthen military ties with the U.S. and other partners in the region.
Ted Aljibe/AFP via Getty Images
The Philippines has since April kept one of its largest coast guard ships, the BRP Teresa Magbuana, at anchor in Sabina Shoal’s lagoon after piles of crushed corals were discovered there, fueling concerns China planned to build an artificial island.
China has responded with a continuous presence of its own, in recent days flooding the area with it maritime forces and preventing the Philippines from supplying its vessel.
Manila has vowed a prolonged presence in the area, while China has accused the U.S. ally of using its ship as a pretext for an indefinite presence similar to the Philippines grounded warship-turned-marine outpost at another contested Spratlys feature, Second Thomas Shoal.
Newsweek reached out to the Philippine and Chinese foreign ministries via emailed requests for comment.
The following is a timeline of recent developments in the standoff.
Coast guards collide
A pair of Philippine Coast Guard cutters suffered minor structural damage after collisions with their Chinese counterparts early on August 19. Manila condemned China’s “aggressive maneuvers,” with one of the Philippine ships being hit on its starboard and port sides during the incident.
The Philippines released photos of the clash while China published video footage it claimed showed the Philippine side to be at fault. Beijing again asserted its sovereignty claim over the Spratly Islands and warned its neighbor to cease its provocations or “bear all the consequences.”
China claims the Spratly Islands, along with most of the South China Sea, as its territory. The claims overlap with those of the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei and Taiwan.
Another collision
The second collision in six days occurred Sunday as Chinese coast guard and navy vessels intercepted a Philippine fisheries bureau vessel. Manila said its ship was on a “humanitarian mission” distributing fuel, food and medical supplies to local fishermen in the vicinity of Sabina Shoal and nearby Half Moon Shoal.
Each side blamed the other for the collision, and Chinese coast guard water cannon barrages damaged the fishery bureau ship’s engine, causing an early end to its mission, Manila said.
China said its ships had taken “control measures” after the Philippine vessel ignored warnings and “illegally” entered waters near Sabina Shoal. Manila demanded Beijing “halt these provocative actions that destabilize regional peace and security.”
Philippine supply mission thwarted
China deployed a 40-ship force, including six from its coast guard, 31 from the so-called maritime militia and six from the People’s Liberation Army Navy, to block two Philippine coast guard cutters endeavoring bring fresh supplies to the Teresa Magbuana.
The confrontation came as essential supplies on the 318-foot ship were at a critical level after multiple failed attempts to replenish them, according to the Philippine coast guard, which said Tuesday supplies were ultimately delivered by helicopter.
The confrontation came as essential supplies on the 318-foot ship were at a critical level.
U.S. escorts on the table
Admiral Samuel Paparo, who heads the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, said Washington is open to escorting Philippine vessels in the South China Sea, pending on consultations between the two allies.
“Every option between the two sovereign nations in terms of our mutual defense, escort of one vessel to the other, is an entirely reasonable option within our Mutual Defense Treaty, among this close alliance between the two of us,” Paparo said Tuesday during his five-day visit to the country.
President Joe Biden has stressed that the defense pact with Manila is “ironclad,” but the U.S. has so far avoided direct involvement in the territorial dispute with China.
‘Our tolerance does have a limit’
Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Wu Qian on Thursday reiterated Beijing’s demand that the Philippines withdraw its ship and vacate Sabina Shoal “as soon as possible.”
“The Chinese side is committed to properly managing differences through dialogue and consultations, but our tolerance does have a limit,” he warned.
