Tit For Tat: Philippines Outwits China | Voice Of The Global South

Summary

In 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.