More Chinese Aggression: Philippine Ships Attacked with Water Cannons | Vantage with Palki Sharma

Firstpost

30 Apr 202405:04

Summary

TLDRThe video script discusses China's recent actions in the South China Sea, where Chinese Coast Guard ships harassed two Philippine vessels in a disputed area near Scarborough Shoal. The Philippines condemned these aggressive maneuvers, while China defended its actions, claiming sovereignty over the region based on its controversial 'nine-dash line' argument. Despite international rulings against China's claims, Beijing continues to assert control over territories within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone. The tensions underscore China's persistent disregard for international law and its aggressive stance in territorial disputes.

Takeaways

🌊 China continues to assert its presence in the South China Sea, particularly in the West Philippine Sea.
🚤 Chinese Coast Guard vessels recently surrounded two Philippine ships, a patrol boat and a supply vessel, in a disputed area known as Scarborough Shoal.
⚠️ The confrontation led to Chinese ships damaging parts of the Philippine supply ship, including its railing and canopy.
📢 The Philippines raised concerns about China's aggressive and dangerous maneuvers, accusing Beijing of harassment.
🇨🇳 China claims Scarborough Shoal as its inherent territory and views Philippine activities as violations of its sovereignty.
📜 Beijing insists its actions were lawful and necessary to protect its territorial claims, advising the Philippines to stop what it sees as provocations.
🗺️ Scarborough Shoal is located just 220 km off the Philippine coast, within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) as per United Nations conventions.
❌ China disregards international law and bases its territorial claims on the controversial nine-dash line, which lacks legal recognition.
⛔ Despite international rulings rejecting its claims, China continues to assert control over disputed areas, including Scarborough Shoal.
🛑 China has placed a floating barrier around the shoal to prevent Filipino fishermen from accessing the area, continuing its long-standing pattern of territorial aggression.

Q & A

What incident involving China and the Philippines is being described in the transcript?
-The transcript describes an incident in the South China Sea, where Chinese Coast Guard ships surrounded two Philippine vessels, a Coast Guard Patrol boat and a supply ship, in a disputed region known as Scarborough Shoal.
What were the Philippine ships doing in the disputed area?
-The Philippine ships were patrolling and reportedly bringing food and fuel to fishermen in the area.
How did China react to the presence of the Philippine ships?
-China deployed two Coast Guard ships that took positions on either side of the Philippine vessels and attacked, damaging parts of the Philippine ship.
What explanation did China give for its actions in the South China Sea?
-China claimed that the Philippine ships were intruding into the waters of Scarborough Shoal (referred to as Huangyan Island by China) without consent, and that China was protecting its 'inherent territory' by taking necessary measures.
What is the significance of the United Nations convention mentioned in the transcript?
-The United Nations convention establishes that a country has exclusive control over the sea up to 370 km away from its coast, which includes the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Scarborough Shoal falls within the Philippines' EEZ, according to this convention.
What is China's 'nine-dash line,' and why is it controversial?
-China's 'nine-dash line' is a self-declared boundary that claims almost the entire South China Sea as Chinese territory. It is controversial because it lacks a legal basis, and international courts have ruled against it.
How does China justify its territorial claims using 'ancient times' arguments?
-China claims that certain disputed areas, such as Scarborough Shoal and other regions, have been part of China since 'ancient times.' Beijing often uses this argument to assert territorial rights, despite the lack of historical or legal evidence.
What has been the outcome of legal rulings regarding China's territorial claims in the South China Sea?
-International courts have ruled that China's claims, particularly those based on the 'nine-dash line,' have no legal basis. Despite these rulings, China continues to assert its claims.
What measures has China taken in Scarborough Shoal recently, according to the transcript?
-China has reportedly set up a 380-meter floating barrier around Scarborough Shoal to prevent Filipino fishermen from accessing the area.
How has the Philippines responded to China's actions in the South China Sea?
-The Philippines has raised concerns about China's dangerous maneuvers and has previously cut down a similar floating barrier set up by China. The transcript suggests they might do the same with the new barrier.

Outlines

00:00

🌊 China's Aggressive Actions in the South China Sea

China is once again acting as an antagonist in the South China Sea, or what is also called the West Philippine Sea. The Chinese Coast Guard recently surrounded two Philippine vessels—a patrol boat and a supply ship—while they were patrolling a disputed area known as Scarborough Shoal. The Philippine ships were delivering food and fuel to local fishermen. Despite their peaceful mission, China deployed two of its own ships, which flanked the Philippine vessels and attacked, causing damage to the railing and canopy of the Philippine ship.

⚠️ Philippines' Concerns Over China's Dangerous Maneuvers

The Philippines has raised concerns about the dangerous maneuvers carried out by the Chinese vessels, accusing Beijing of harassing its ships. Video footage of the incident highlights China’s aggressive tactics, but Beijing has countered with a completely different narrative, claiming the Philippine ships were intruding on China’s territory and that their actions were lawful defensive measures. This incident has further strained relations between the two nations.

🏝️ China's Claim Over Scarborough Shoal

China claims that Scarborough Shoal (referred to as 'Hangan Island' by China) is part of its 'inherent territory.' According to Beijing, the Philippine vessels were trespassing in Chinese waters, violating its sovereignty. The Chinese Coast Guard took 'necessary measures' to remove them, and China has advised the Philippines to cease what it calls provocative actions, warning against challenging China's determination to defend its territorial claims.

📍 The Disputed Scarborough Shoal Location

Scarborough Shoal lies just 220 kilometers off the Philippine coast, well within the country's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) as defined by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The convention grants countries exclusive rights to the sea up to 370 kilometers from their coastlines. Despite this, China disregards international law, asserting its control over the area based on its own controversial territorial claims.

📜 China's Nine-Dash Line and Historical Claims

China's claim to vast portions of the South China Sea is based on the so-called 'nine-dash line,' a boundary first drawn in the mid-20th century. According to China, everything within these dashes is its territory, an assertion it justifies by invoking 'ancient times.' This argument has been used by China in disputes over Scarborough Shoal, Japanese islands, and even the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. These claims, however, lack legal validity and have been dismissed by international courts.

🚫 Harassment of Philippine Ships Since 2012

China seized control of Scarborough Shoal in 2012 and has since repeatedly harassed Philippine ships in the area. Manila has accused Beijing of constructing a 380-meter floating barrier to prevent Filipino fishermen from accessing the waters around the shoal. A similar barrier was placed last year but was cut down by the Philippines, and it is likely they will do the same again. The situation reflects the persistent challenges Manila faces as a neighbor to an increasingly assertive China.

🤝 India and the Philippines: Shared Experiences with China

The script concludes by comparing the Philippines' current struggles with China to India’s own long-standing issues with its powerful neighbor. Both countries have dealt with aggressive territorial claims from China and are familiar with the difficulties that come with being in proximity to a country that disregards international norms. The narrator expresses solidarity with the Philippines in its ongoing efforts to defend its territorial waters from Chinese encroachment.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡South China Sea

The South China Sea is a highly contested region in Asia, rich in resources and strategic waterways. In the video, it is referred to as the 'West Philippine Sea,' emphasizing the territorial disputes between China and the Philippines. This region is the setting for the maritime conflict described, where China is accused of antagonizing the Philippines.

💡Philippine vessels

Philippine vessels, specifically a Coast Guard patrol boat and a supply ship, are central to the confrontation in the video. These ships were patrolling the disputed area and delivering supplies to local fishermen when they were surrounded and harassed by Chinese Coast Guard ships, highlighting the ongoing tensions between the two countries.

💡Scarborough Shoal

Scarborough Shoal, referred to as 'scabo sh' in the transcript, is a key disputed territory in the South China Sea. China claims it as part of its territory, while the Philippines argues it falls within its exclusive economic zone. The Shoal is a flashpoint for conflict, symbolizing the broader territorial disputes in the region.

💡Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)

An Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is an area of the sea where a country has exclusive rights to exploit marine resources, typically extending 370 kilometers from its coast. In the video, it is explained that the Scarborough Shoal lies within the Philippines' EEZ, but China disputes this, exacerbating tensions over fishing rights and territorial control.

💡Chinese Coast Guard

The Chinese Coast Guard plays a provocative role in the conflict, with their ships surrounding and damaging Philippine vessels. The video depicts the Coast Guard as acting aggressively to enforce China's territorial claims, despite international objections. This reinforces China's broader strategy of asserting control over disputed waters.

💡Nine-dash line

The nine-dash line is a demarcation used by China to claim vast areas of the South China Sea, based on historical assertions. The video highlights how China uses this line to justify its territorial claims, even though international courts have ruled against its legitimacy. It symbolizes China’s aggressive territorial expansion in the region.

💡United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)

UNCLOS is an international treaty defining nations' rights and responsibilities regarding maritime boundaries. The video references UNCLOS to argue that the Scarborough Shoal lies within the Philippines' EEZ, thus under its jurisdiction. However, China disregards this, continuing to assert its own claims based on historical precedent.

💡Floating barrier

A floating barrier refers to a physical obstruction placed by China around the Scarborough Shoal to prevent Filipino fishermen from accessing the area. The video mentions that China installed a 380-meter floating barrier to enforce its territorial claims, an action that Manila has opposed and previously dismantled, further fueling tensions.

💡Harassment

Harassment, in this context, refers to the aggressive actions taken by the Chinese Coast Guard against the Philippine vessels. The video describes the damage done to Philippine ships and China's attempts to block their operations, illustrating the hostile tactics China uses to assert control over disputed waters.

💡Sovereignty

Sovereignty is the authority of a state to govern itself and control its territories. In the video, China claims that Scarborough Shoal is part of its 'inherent territory' and that Philippine actions infringe on its sovereignty. This underscores the broader theme of territorial disputes, where China justifies its aggressive actions as defense of its sovereignty.

Highlights

China returns to a familiar role as an antagonist in the South China Sea, particularly in the West Philippine Sea.

Chinese Coast Guard ships surround two Philippine vessels: a patrol boat and a supply ship in the disputed Scarborough Shoal region.

The Philippine vessels were on a mission to patrol the area and deliver supplies such as food and fuel to fishermen.

Two Chinese ships attacked the Philippine vessels, damaging parts of the ships, including their railing and canopy.

Manila accuses Beijing of engaging in dangerous maneuvers and harassing its vessels in the disputed waters.

China defends its actions by claiming Scarborough Shoal as an inherent territory, accusing the Philippines of infringing on its sovereignty.

Beijing states that the Philippine vessels were intruding into Chinese waters without permission, and claims the Chinese Coast Guard acted in accordance with the law.

Scarborough Shoal lies within 220 kilometers of the Philippine coast, well within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ) under United Nations conventions.

China continues to push the controversial 'Nine-Dash Line' narrative, claiming that everything within these dashes is Chinese territory.

China's justification for territorial claims, citing 'ancient times,' is often used in disputes involving the South China Sea, Japanese islands, and even the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh.

International courts have ruled that China's nine-dash line claims have no legal basis, yet Beijing persists in its assertions.

China seized Scarborough Shoal in 2012 and has been harassing Philippine vessels in the region ever since.

Recently, China installed a 380-meter floating barrier to prevent Filipino fishermen from accessing the area, following similar actions last year.

The Philippines previously cut down a barrier installed by China in the region and may do so again.

The situation exemplifies the difficulties of neighboring China, as noted by both the Philippines and India, who have experienced similar aggressive territorial claims.