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    China’s Assertive Maritime Claims Spark Tensions in the South China Sea

    nephilaBy World News 5 Mins Read

    China says everything is their seas. They claim the waters bordering on nations thousands of miles away. The big, bad boy on the block uses their size to bully all neighbors. Can you imagine how bad this will be when in 5 years China has 7 or 8 aircraft carriers and a war fleet twice the size of Americas? The world is about to enter a very dangerous time.

    For years, China has been in conflict with several countries in the Asia-Pacific region due to its extensive maritime claims, including almost all of the South China Sea. This strategic and resource-rich waterway has been marked by Beijing with a 10-dash-line on official maps, indicating what it considers its territory.

    China is currently undergoing a significant military expansion and has become more assertive in its territorial claims, leading to frequent confrontations, primarily with the Philippines. Additionally, China is involved in longstanding disputes with Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Brunei.

    A 2016 arbitration ruling by a United Nations tribunal invalidated China’s claims in the South China Sea. However, China did not participate in the proceedings and rejected the ruling. The stakes in this conflict include fishing rights, access to undersea oil reserves, and other natural resources, as well as the potential establishment of military outposts.

    The United States, a treaty partner with the Philippines, has expressed concerns about China’s actions. President Joe Biden has pledged unwavering support for Manila, raising fears that escalating incidents could lead to a broader conflict.

    In a recent incident, a Chinese vessel and a Philippine supply ship collided near the disputed Spratly Islands. The Chinese coast guard reported that a Philippine supply ship had entered waters near the Second Thomas Shoal, a submerged reef in the Spratly Islands claimed by multiple nations. The Philippine military described the Chinese coast guard’s report as “deceptive and misleading.”

    Here are some other incidents and developments in recent months:

    • June 4: Philippine officials reported that the Chinese coast guard seized food dropped for Filipino naval personnel on an outpost on Second Thomas Shoal. Philippine General Romeo Brawner suggested that the Chinese may have suspected the packages contained construction materials intended to reinforce the rusting Philippine navy ship grounded at Second Thomas Shoal to serve as a Philippine outpost.
    • May 16: Approximately 100 Filipino activists on wooden boats altered their plans to distribute food to Filipinos based on the Second Thomas Shoal after being shadowed by Chinese coast guard ships. Instead, they distributed food packs and fuel southeast of the disputed territory.

    • April 30: Chinese coast guard ships fired water cannons at two Philippine patrol vessels near the Scarborough Shoal, another contentious area. Philippine officials claimed that water cannons could damage their ships’ engines or capsize the smaller vessels. China defended its actions as a “necessary measure,” accusing the Philippines of violating Chinese sovereignty and reinstalling a floating barrier across the entrance to the shoal’s fishing lagoon.
    • April 23: A Chinese coast guard ship blocked a Philippine patrol vessel near Second Thomas Shoal, nearly causing a collision. Before the incident, a Chinese naval vessel had shadowed two Philippine patrol boats near Subi, one of the seven reefs in the Spratly Islands that China has transformed into a missile-protected military outpost. Subi is also claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan.
    • March 23: The Chinese coast guard used water cannons against a Philippine supply boat near Second Thomas Shoal, injuring crew members and damaging the vessel. China claimed the Philippines intruded into its territorial waters despite repeated warnings.
    • March 5: Chinese and Philippine coast guard vessels were involved in a minor collision off the Second Thomas Shoal. Four Filipino crew members were injured when China blasted a supply boat with water cannons, shattering its windshield. China’s coast guard accused the Philippine ships of illegally intruding into the area’s waters.
    • January 12: A Filipino fishing boat captain reported that the Chinese coast guard drove him away from the Scarborough Shoal, forcing him to dump his catch into the sea.
    • December 9, 2023: The Chinese coast guard surrounded a supply ship and blasted it with a water cannon near the Second Thomas Shoal. The head of the Philippine military, who was aboard the supply boat, reported that they were also “bumped” by a Chinese ship.
    • November 10, 2023: China used a water cannon against a Philippine supply ship near Second Thomas Shoal, asserting it acted appropriately under maritime law to defend its territory.
    • October 22, 2023: A Chinese coast guard ship and an accompanying vessel rammed a Philippine coast guard ship and a military-run supply boat near the Second Thomas Shoal. The Chinese coast guard claimed the Philippine vessels trespassed into Chinese waters.
    • September 26, 2023: The Philippine coast guard removed a floating barrier placed by China at the entrance to the lagoon at the Scarborough Shoal to prevent Filipino fishing boats from entering. China later replaced the barrier.

    Major Points

    • China’s extensive maritime claims in the South China Sea have led to ongoing conflicts with several Asia-Pacific countries, including the Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Brunei.
    • Despite a 2016 United Nations tribunal ruling invalidating China’s claims, Beijing rejected the decision and continues to assert its territorial ambitions.
    • The United States has expressed strong support for the Philippines, raising concerns that escalating incidents could lead to a broader conflict.
    • Recent confrontations include collisions, water cannon attacks, and the blocking of Philippine vessels by Chinese coast guard ships near disputed areas like the Spratly and Scarborough Shoals.
    • Incidents have involved the seizure of supplies, interference with fishing activities, and accusations from both sides regarding territorial violations and aggressive actions.

    Charles William III – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News

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