The Philippines’ Bureau of Fisheries accused Chinese maritime militia of striking two routine patrol vessels in the South China Sea on Friday, October 11. These latest collisions came a day after the biannual meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), escalating tensions surrounding the ongoing South China Sea dispute.
The vessels were patrolling the area surrounding Pag-asa Island (Thitu Island) when they suffered dents in their starboard bow. This island is within the Philippines’ 200-nautical-mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
The Philippines accused China of using military presence in the South China Sea to strengthen its control over the disputed area. Meanwhile, China continues to claim that these were civilian ships, calling the accusations “repeated provocations and territorial incursions”. In fact, Chinese ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated in a news conference that “China urges the Philippines to earnestly respect China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea.”
China claims the entire South China Sea, and the Spratly Islands within them. This overrules the EEZs of Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam, set by UNCLOS.
Comparison of China’s territorial claims and the 200 nautical mile EEZs established by UNCLOS
[Image by: r.ridderhof (2016). Peace Palace Library]
Notably, the collisions of October 11 took place the day after the biannual ASEAN summit.
What Happened in The October 2024 ASEAN Summit?
The latest ASEAN summit composed of Southeast Asian leaders and China took place in 2023, between October 6 and 10. One of the primary issues discussed was the finalization of a maritime code between China and Southeast Asian countries regarding territories in the disputed waterway.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called on member states to hasten negotiations to ensure territorial integrity in the South China Sea while accusing Beijing of “harassment and intimidation”.
A drafted code by the ASEAN member states was proposed to the East Asia Summit on the same day. It was rejected by Russia and China, while the United States, Japan, Australia, South Korea, and India expressed their support for the proposal.
The outcome of the conference raised concerns that continuous escalation could eventually involve the United States, which is obliged to aid Filipino troops in the case of an attack due to a mutual defense treaty established in 1951.
How Did The Dispute Begin?
In 1974, China published a map marking its territorial claims in the South China Sea indicated by a nine-dash line. Since 2013, the Spratly Islands have been subject to artificial island-building and militarization conducted by China. There are now 3,200 acres of new land which include ports, lighthouses, and 10,000-foot runways. According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, China has established military assets including anti-air and anti-ship missiles, and hangers for military transportation, patrol, and combat aircraft, in the region.
Map issued by China showcasing the nine-dash line and its claims in the region
[Image by: Getty Images via BBC]
Map illustrating the military assets of China throughout various islands in the South China Sea.
[Image by: Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative/CSIS (2024, July 3). Al Jazeera]
The South China Sea remains a valuable region for all stakeholders involved. It is one of the most economically important waterways in the world, with $3.4 trillion worth of cargo shipped through every year. Furthermore, it is estimated to have around 11 billion barrels of oil and 190 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.
Due to continuous threat and clashes with Chinese military presence in the South China Sea, the Philippines issued arbitral proceedings against China in 2013. The South China Sea Arbitration Award concluded that China’s claim to historic rights go against the allocation of maritime zones established under UNCLOS.
In short, the latest clashes between China and the Philippines have only escalated the tensions surrounding the South China Sea dispute. The division between Russian-backed China and US-allied Philippines heightened by the outcomes of the last ASEAN summit have set back the negotiations for managing the crisis.
