As global attention remains fixed on the conflicts between Israel and Hamas and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine disputes, China continues to employ assertive tactics in the South China Sea.
On Monday, China mobilized its naval and aerial forces to intercept a Philippine warship attempting to enter the South China Sea. The South Theater Command of China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) reported that a Philippine corvette had made an unauthorized attempt to breach the maritime border near Huangyan Island. In response, China’s Southern Command dispatched both naval and air assets to intercept, closely monitor, issue warnings, and ultimately block the Philippine vessel.
China asserts territorial claims over a vast expanse of the South China Sea, which includes portions of the exclusive economic zones of neighboring countries such as Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei.
Notably, the Philippines has refrained from an immediate response to China’s actions in the South China Sea. This, however, is not an isolated incident in the interactions between Chinese and Philippine forces. In the previous week, a Chinese Coast Guard vessel intercepted and halted a supply boat from the Philippines, an action that the Philippines vehemently condemned.
The “Sierra Madre,” a World War II-era Philippine warship, currently rests submerged in the Second Thomas Shoal within the South China Sea. The Philippines Navy repurposes this derelict ship as a makeshift naval base, and Chinese vessels frequently attempt to disrupt the logistical and resupply operations to the stationed soldiers.
China accuses the Philippine ship of trespassing in the vicinity of Scarborough Shoal. It has issued an official statement, urging the Philippines to immediately cease provocations.
This warning from the Chinese military is an unusual one, primarily targeted at the Philippines’ actions in the territorial waters of the South China Sea. Previously, the majority of China’s warnings were aimed at U.S. warships operating in the area.
Over time, China and the Philippines have found themselves engaged in numerous confrontations within the South China Sea, with recent incidents involving mutual accusations regarding the collision of a Philippine boat and a Chinese coast guard vessel.
Senior Colonel Tian Junli, the spokesperson for the People’s Liberation Army Southern Theater Command, stated, “We are urging the Philippine side to immediately stop its infringement and provocations and earnestly avoid further escalation.”
Furthermore, China, Taiwan, and the Philippines all stake claims to Scarborough Shoal, intensifying the ongoing disputes in the region.
Tensions have escalated due to various factors. Notably, China expressed its dissatisfaction with the Philippines’ decision to purchase supersonic cruise missiles (BrahMos) from India in January of this year, a move aimed at bolstering its coastal defense.
Regarding the recent incident, China has criticized the Philippines for growing closer to the United States and holds the Philippines accountable for provocative actions. It suggests that the Philippines may be attempting to garner attention from the United States or be influenced by the nation.
China’s state-run media outlet, ‘Global Times,’ even issued a warning, suggesting that such provocations could “backfire” because the United States might exploit the situation without necessarily defending the interests of the Philippines.
These developments coincide with a recent incident in which a Chinese J-11 fighter jet attempted to intimidate an American B-52 bomber by flying at high speeds and performing dangerous manoeuvres in the South China Sea airspace on October 24. The US Indo-Pacific Command released a video of this incident and issued a stern warning to China.
The Pentagon’s China Military Power Report (CMPR) has also noted that Chinese fighter jets engaged in dangerous flights approximately 180 times since 2021. The report highlights “unsafe, unprofessional, and unproductive behaviour” by Chinese pilots, which poses risks to safe air operations by the United States and other countries in the East and South China Sea. Declassified photos and videos have accompanied this report, depicting instances of hazardous Chinese military activities in international airspace.
China’s stance is unyielding: it prohibits foreign warships from entering the South China Sea, even as it permits military aircraft from various countries to navigate the airspace. China’s claim extends to the entirety of the South China Sea, including exclusive economic zones belonging to neighbouring nations such as the Philippines, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam. China refuses to acknowledge the 2016 ruling by the International Court that rejected its claims.
In response, countries like the United States and India have voiced strong opposition to China’s assertive behavior. On Monday, India’s Defense Minister, Rajnath Singh, explicitly emphasized the importance of a “free, open, and rules-based maritime order” for all nations.
Speaking at the Goa Maritime Conclave (GMC), hosted by India and attended by a dozen countries in the Indian Ocean region, including Bangladesh, Indonesia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Myanmar, Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and Thailand, Rajnath Singh emphasized the need to adhere to international laws and agreements. He cautioned against jeopardizing established international law in pursuit of narrow, immediate interests, as such actions could harm civilized maritime relations.