Tit For Tat: Philippines Outwits China | Voice Of The Global South
Summary
TLDRIn August 2024, a Chinese vessel collided with two Philippine boats near the Sabina Shoal, escalating tensions in the Indo-Pacific. The incident highlights China's alleged provocations in the region, with the Philippines responding by grounding the BRP Sierra Madre on the shoal to assert its claim. Despite an agreement between China and the Philippines for resupply missions, disagreements persist, and the US supports the Philippines in maintaining its stance. The situation underscores the ongoing maritime disputes in the South China Sea.
Takeaways
- 🗓️ On August 19, 2024, a Chinese vessel collided with two Philippine boats near the Sabina Shoal, an area claimed by the Philippines as part of its exclusive economic zone.
- 🛳️ The collision caused structural damage to the Philippine boats and was followed by a diplomatic dispute between Manila and Beijing, escalating tensions in the Indo-Pacific region.
- 🏝️ Sabina Shoal is a naturally occurring submerged sandbar located about 140 kilometers from Palawan, an island in the Philippine archipelago.
- 🚢 The BRP Sierra Madre, a World War II vintage ship, was deliberately grounded on the Ayungin Shoal by the Philippines in 1999 to assert its territorial claim and deter Chinese encroachment.
- 🌐 The Ayungin Shoal is part of the Spratly Islands, a group of features in the South China Sea, which includes reefs, shoals, and islands, many of which are submerged.
- 🇵🇭 Philippine officials and security experts fear that China is attempting to seize and militarize the Ayungin Shoal, similar to its actions at Mischief Reef in the 1990s.
- 🛑 The BRP Sierra Madre has been involved in at least eight maritime confrontations with Chinese vessels in the past 18 months, indicating increased aggression in the area.
- 📜 In July 2024, China and the Philippines reached a provisional agreement regarding the resupply of the grounded BRP Sierra Madre, but details of the agreement have not been released, leading to continued disputes.
- 🇺🇸 The US has expressed support for the Philippines, stating that a mutual defense treaty applies to the BRP Sierra Madre and promising to assist in resupplying the ship.
- 🏗️ Manila is concerned that China may be planning to build an artificial island on the Escoda Shoal, further expanding its territorial claims in the South China Sea.
- 🌏 The South China Sea dispute involves claims by China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei, with the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling against most of China's claims in 2016, a decision Beijing has rejected.
Q & A
What incident occurred on the 19th of August, 2024, involving a Chinese vessel and Philippine boats?
-A Chinese vessel collided with two Philippine boats near the Sabina Shoal, which is a naturally occurring submerged body of sand in the West Philippine Sea.
What is the Sabina Shoal, and where is it located?
-The Sabina Shoal is a submerged sandbar located in the West Philippine Sea about 140 kilometers from Palawan, an island in the Philippine archipelago. It is also referred to as the Ayungin Shoal by Manila.
What is the significance of the Sabina Shoal in terms of territorial claims?
-Manila claims that the Sabina Shoal falls within its exclusive economic zone, and it is part of the disputed territories in the South China Sea.
What was the outcome of the collision between the Chinese vessel and the Philippine boats?
-The collision caused structural damage to the Philippine boats and led to a war of words between Manila and Beijing, raising tensions in the Indo-Pacific region.
What is the historical context of the BRP Sierra Madre in the South China Sea?
-The BRP Sierra Madre is an old World War II-vintage ship that was deliberately grounded on the Ayungin Shoal by the Philippine Navy in 1999 to reinforce Manila's claim to the shoal and deter Chinese designs on it.
Why did the Philippines ground the BRP Sierra Madre on the Ayungin Shoal?
-The Philippines grounded the BRP Sierra Madre to assert its sovereignty and prevent China from seizing the shoal, similar to how China took control of the Mischief Reef in the 1990s.
What are the concerns regarding China's behavior in the South China Sea?
-There are concerns that China is plotting to take over and militarize features like the Ayungin Shoal, as it has done with other features such as Mischief Reef and Scarborough Shoal.
What was the nature of the agreement reached between China and the Philippines on 22nd July 2024?
-The agreement was a limited and provisional arrangement that allowed for Philippine resupply missions to its soldiers aboard the grounded BRP Sierra Madre, but details of the agreement have not been released by either side.
What are the key points of contention in the agreement between China and the Philippines?
-Key points of contention include China's demand for the Philippines to tow away the BRP Sierra Madre and its refusal to accept large amounts of building materials being shipped to the shoal by the Philippines.
What is the position of the United States regarding the situation in the South China Sea involving the Philippines?
-The United States has expressed support for the Philippines, stating that the mutual defense treaty between the US and the Philippines applies to the BRP Sierra Madre and has pledged to do what is necessary to ensure the Philippines can resupply the ship.
What is the broader context of the South China Sea dispute involving China and other Asian countries?
-China claims nearly all of the South China Sea, including territories within the exclusive economic zones of the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei. The Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled in 2016 that most of China's claims were illegal, a decision that Beijing has rejected.
Outlines
🚢 Maritime Tensions: China-Philippines Collision and Territorial Disputes
On Monday, August 19th, 2024, a Chinese vessel collided with two Philippine boats near the Sabina Shoal, a submerged sand body within the West Philippine Sea. The incident occurred within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone, sparking a diplomatic row and raising regional tensions. The Philippine National Security Council's spokesperson, Jonathan Malaya, reported structural damage to the boats and accused the Chinese vessel of ramming one of them twice. This event highlights the increasing frequency of such incidents, often involving China and its assertive behavior in the Indo-Pacific region. The script also delves into the backstory of the BRP Sierra Madre, an old ship intentionally grounded on the Ayungin Shoal in 1999 to assert Philippine sovereignty and deter Chinese advances. The ship has since been a point of contention, with recent aggressive maneuvers by China raising fears of escalating conflict.
🛑 Escalating Conflicts: China's Occupation and Philippine Response
The script discusses China's occupation of the Scarborough Shoal (known as Huangyan Island to China) in the mid-1990s and its subsequent control over the area, including the constant presence of the Chinese Coast Guard since 2012. It also details the BRP Sierra Madre's role in at least eight maritime confrontations in the past 18 months, including incidents where Chinese vessels entered the Philippines' exclusive economic zone and engaged in aggressive behavior, such as ramming and brandishing weapons. The script mentions an agreement reached between China and the Philippines in July 2024, which is limited in scope and has led to differing interpretations and continued tensions. The agreement allows for the resupply of the grounded BRP Sierra Madre but is clouded by disagreements over inspections and the transport of building materials. The US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan assures support for the Philippines in maintaining the resupply of the ship, emphasizing the mutual defense treaty between the US and the Philippines.
🌏 Regional Security and Sovereignty: US Support and Future Implications
The final paragraph outlines the US's commitment to the mutual defense treaty with the Philippines, particularly concerning the BRP Sierra Madre ship, and the readiness to support resupply missions. It also includes statements from the Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, who emphasizes the country's unwavering stance on not yielding territory and principles, despite efforts to deescalate tensions. The script touches on China's expansive claims in the South China Sea, which have been rejected by the Permanent Court of Arbitration. It raises concerns over China's potential plans to build an artificial island near the Escoda or Sabina Shoal, similar to its actions elsewhere in the region. The narrative concludes with a call to action for other Asian countries to stand up against China's assertive moves, suggesting a possible trend of similar tactics being employed by other nations in response to China's behavior.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Chinese vessel
💡Philippine boats
💡Sabina Shoal
💡Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)
💡Territorial claims
💡BRP Sierra Madre
💡Mischief Reef
💡Maritime confrontations
💡Mutual Defense Treaty
💡De-escalation
💡Artificial Island
Highlights
Chinese vessel collides with two Philippine boats near Sabina Shoal, raising tensions in the Indo-Pacific region.
Sabina Shoal is a submerged body of sand located within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.
Manila claims the collision caused structural damage to Philippine boats and involved the Chinese vessel ramming twice.
Incidents like these are occurring with alarming regularity near the Philippines, often implicating China.
China's alleged provocative behavior raises questions about its intentions in the Indo-Pacific.
The story of an old World War II ship, the BRP Sierra Madre, used as a strategic move by the Philippines.
The BRP Sierra Madre was deliberately grounded on the Ayungin Shoal to reinforce Manila's claim and deter China.
China's aggressive maneuvers near the Ayungin Shoal have escalated fears of conflict in the region.
Philippine officials and security experts fear China's potential to militarize the Ayungin Shoal.
China has a history of occupying and militarizing reefs, as seen with the Mischief Reef incident.
The BRP Sierra Madre has been involved in multiple maritime confrontations with China.
China's largest Coast Guard vessel, the 'Monster Ship,' entered Manila's exclusive economic zone.
The Philippines accuses China of harassment and damaging their ships during resupply missions.
China and the Philippines reached a limited agreement allowing resupply missions to the BRP Sierra Madre.
The agreement's scope and implementation are unclear, leading to continued territorial disputes.
The US supports the Philippines and asserts the mutual defense treaty applies to the BRP Sierra Madre.
The Philippines is determined not to yield or back down from China's territorial claims.
China's expansive claims in the South China Sea have been ruled illegal by the Permanent Court of Arbitration.
Manila fears China's plans to build an artificial island on Escoda Shoal, further encroaching on Philippine territory.
The unorthodox tactic of grounding the BRP Sierra Madre may inspire similar maneuvers by other Asian countries against China.
Transcripts
Monday the 19th of August
2024 in the we hours of the morning a
Chinese vessel collides with two
Philippine boats
this near the Sabina sh or escod sh as
Manila calls it now a SCH is a naturally
occuring body of sand that remains
submerged underwater at all times the
sholl is located in the west Philippine
Sea about 140 kilm from Palawan an
island in the Philippine archipelago
Manila says the sholl Falls within its
exclusive economic zone
now Jonathan Malaya a spokesperson of
the Philippine National Security Council
says the Collision caused structural
damage to its boats the Chinese vessel
rammed one of the two Philippine boats
twice the Collision gave rise to a war
of words between Manila and Beijing and
it raised tensions all over again in the
Indo
Pacific now what is equally worrying is
that such incidents are taking place
with an alarming regularity in the
waters near the Philippines and almost
always it is China That's allegedly
guilty of rash and negligent
Behavior so what is China really up to
Why is it provoking tensions in the
indopacific
and how is the Philippines responding to
the challenges posed by
China right so I'll attempt to give you
the answers over the course of this
program but first what I'm about to tell
you is a story of an old rusty ship of
World War II vintage as much as it is
about war by other means sunzu a six
Century BCE military strategist said all
Warfare is based on Deception and true
to form China has used sauge and
deception to seize the Mischief Reef
that's located in the exclusive economic
zone of the Philippines now that was in
the mid
1990s not to be outdone the Philippines
Ted its Navy Chief with a secret mission
on 9th May 1999 he was to deliberately
run a ship ground without China knowing
on the Ain sh also know known as the
second Thomas R the then Philippine Navy
Chief picked the BRP Sierra Madre for
the mission the United States had built
this Naval vessel for use in the second
world war it was commissioned into the
US Navy in
1944 subsequently the 100 foot long SHP
saw action during the Vietnam war in
1976 the Philippines acquired the ship
from
Vietnam the Philippine navvy named it
BRP Sierra Madre after the longest
mountain range in the Philippines now
the names of commission ships of the
Philippine Navy are prefixed with the
letters
BRP which means ship of the Republic of
the Philippines in the Tagalog language
the BRP Sierra madri was left on the
augin SCH which is a part of the mostly
uninhabited spratly islands in order to
reinforce manila's claim to the SCH and
stop any moves by China
to seize it the Sprat Le consist of 12
Islands many of these reefs and shes
there remain permanently submerged below
the sea the Ain sholl is located less
than 400 km from the province of palavan
in the Philippines the decision to run a
ship ground on the second thas roll
deterred Chinese design to usurp more of
Philippines territory since then a small
contingent Philippine troops troops has
taken turns to live aboard the rusty
ship food water and other amenities are
regularly supplied to the Troops but in
the last few years China started
aggressive Maneuvers in the area raising
fears of an escalation of conflict in
the
region so what explains the Chinese
Behavior Philippine officials and
Security Experts fear that China is
plotting to take over the iin stroll and
militarize it just as it did with a
Mischief Reef which is located 40 km
away the apprehensions are not
unfounded like the Mischief Reef in the
mid 1990s China occupied the scabo sh by
stealth in
2012 the scab rool is a rock in the
South China Sea about 220 Odd kilm West
of the Philippine island of lozon now
there are no structures built on an
scabo but its effect effectively
controlled by China which has maintained
a constant Coast Guard presence there
since
2012 Jonathan Malaya from the
Philippines National Security Council
says the second thas is a good side for
a military base and China has the money
to turn it into one so that's why China
wanted
it now the BRP Sierra madri has been at
the center of at least eight Maritime
confrontations in the past 18 months
alone in one such confrontation at CA
China's largest Coast Guard vessel
anchored in manila's exclusive economic
zone the 165 M so-called Monster Ship
entered manila's EZ in the first week of
July in another confrontation a
Philippine sailor lost a finger after
being rammed by a Chinese ship a footage
of the incident released by the Philip
military showed Chinese Coast Guard
Personnel brandishing an Axe and other
bladed or pointed tools at the
Philippine soldiers and slashing their
rubber
boat now similar confrontations have
taken place in the past two for instance
30th April 2024 the Philippines accuses
China's Coast Guard of harassment and
damaging two of its B 24th March 2024
China Coast Guard uses water cannon on a
Philippine ship that was carrying out a
resupply mission for its troops the ship
was damaged and It screw was
injured and February 2023 the
Philippines accuses China's Coast Guard
of directing a military grade laser at
one of its
ships on 22nd July 2024 China and the
Philippines reached an agreement that
was limited in its scope the pack allows
for Philippine resupply missions to its
soldiers aboard this grounded trip what
does the agreement say well neither
Beijing nor Manila have released a text
of the agreement so far consequently
differences sprang up just as quickly as
the agreement was announced what is
clear though is this that both sides
continue to hold on to their respective
territorial claims Manila says that pack
will not Prejudice its National position
so why is it called a provisional
arrangement
or the Philippines will only say that
what the two sides agree to is really a
common understanding when and how this
understanding would be implemented is
not certain Manila says it remains ready
to implement it and urges Beijing to do
the same for its part the Chinese
foreign Ministry calls it a temporary
Arrangement implying thereby that it is
only an interm deal a Chinese foreign
Ministry spokesperson says the move
reflected beijing's Goodwill or
magnanimity but a US Diplomat Daniel
Kitt Brink had this to say about the
pack he says I think the key now from
our Vantage will be to ensure that it is
implemented number one and number two
that China seizes its provocative and
destabilizing activities around second
thas SCH that we've seen in recent
weeks but differences persist One China
wants the Philippines to tow away the
grounded warship and two China says it
will not accept the Philippines shipping
large amounts of building materials to
the SH now this is what the Chinese
foreign Ministry said in a statement
between now and when the warship is
stored away should the Philippines need
to send living Necessities to the
Personnel living on the warship China is
willing to allow it in a humanitarian
Spirit if the Philippines informs China
in advance and after on-site
verification is
conducted now for its part the
Philippines says it will not submit to
inspections from China Philippine
national security advisor Eduardo ano
says the arrangement does not include
agreeing to Chinese vessels conducting
onsite inspections the Philippines is
also against informing China in advance
about its resupply
missions the US National Security
adviser Jake Sullivan says the US will
do what is necessary to see that the
Philippines is able to resupply the ship
he told the Aspen security Forum
conference in the US state of Colorado
on 19th July that the US has made clear
to China that a mutual defense treaty
between the US and the Philippines
applies to the BRP Sierra Madre ship as
well to consult very closely with the
Philippines because these are decisions
they should lead on how to most
effectively reprovision this ship so
that the sailors on board have have the
food and water and other Provisions they
need to continue to fulfill their
mission and we will do what is necessary
with the Philippines uh to see to it
that that
happens the Philippines is in no mood to
relent president Ferdinand maros Jr said
in his annual state of the nation
address on 22nd July that his country
cannot yield or wave
up we continuously try to find ways to
deescalate tensions in protested areas
with our counterparts without
compromising our position and our
principles I know that our neighbors too
are doing their best to make this
work the Philippines cannot yield the
Philippines cannot
waste now China claims nearly all of the
South China including territories in the
exclusive economic zones of the
Philippines Vietnam Malaysia
and brunai in 2016 the permanent Court
of arbitration in the he ruled that most
of China's claims in the area were
illegal a decision that Beijing has
rejected Manila says that in April 2024
it scientists discovered crushed corals
on the escoda or Saina SCH it fears that
China plans to build an artificial
Island there much like it did elsewhere
in the area and Gobble up more territory
falling in the EZ of the Philippines by
forcing Manila out from the second thas
sholl where the Sierra mad is grounded
and pushing further eastwards towards
the escora or Sabina schol now the
question is will manila's unorthodox
tactic of grounding the BRP Sierra Madre
spawn similar Maneuvers by other Asian
countries against China will it spur
Vietnam Malaysia or brunai to call
beijing's
Pluff as they say
watch this
space all right so that was all about
the latest Maritime tension between the
Philippines and China and now to our
weekly poll where you the viewer get to
have your say we're asking like the
Philippines do you think more Asian
countries should stand up with China yes
or no what do you think I repeat like
the Philippines do you think more Asian
countries should stand up to China yes
or no
tell us what you think you can post your
replies on our social media accounts on
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hear from
you and now to the result of last week's
poll we asked you after killings of
Hindus in Bangladesh it is time the
world acknowledged anti-hindu hatred
just as it does
anti-semitism yes or no 68% said yes 32%
said no so that 68 8: 32 thank you for
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appreciate it
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