More Chinese Aggression: Philippine Ships Attacked with Water Cannons | Vantage with Palki Sharma
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
🌊 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
💡Philippine vessels
💡Scarborough Shoal
💡Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)
💡Chinese Coast Guard
💡Nine-dash line
💡United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)
💡Floating barrier
💡Harassment
💡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.
Transcripts
meanwhile on the other side of Asia
China returns to a more familiar role
that of antagonizer China is back to its
usual Antics in the South China Sea or
rather the West Philippine Sea Chinese
Coast Guard ships were at it again they
surrounded two Philippine vessels a
Coast Guard Patrol boat and a supply
ship and this was in a disputed re
region known as the scabo sh the
Philippine ships were carrying out
patrols and reportedly bringing food and
fuel to fishermen in the area so these
were Supply ships but China did not like
their presence two Chinese ships were
pressed into action they took to either
side of the Philippine ships and then
they attacked
[Music]
[Laughter]
[Music]
parts of the Philippine ship were
damaged its railing and canopy the
Philippines has raised concerns saying
these were dangerous Maneuvers by China
Manila has accused Beijing of harassing
its vessels and after seeing the video
how else would you describe it but
Beijing of course has dreamed up an
entirely different explanation hangan
island or Scarboro sh is an inherent
territory of China the maritime police
vessels and the official vessels of the
Philippines are intruding into the
Waters of hangan Island without the
consent of the Chinese side thus
seriously infringing on the sovereignty
of the Chinese side in accordance with
the law the Chinese Coast Guard took the
necessary measures to firmly remove them
China advises the Philippine side to
immediately stop its infringing and
provocative actions and not to challenge
China's firm determination to safeguard
its sovereignty
China says it was defending one of its
quote UNC inherent
territories it makes the Philippines
sound like the aggressor which is of
course not not the case look at the map
scabo sh lies just off the Philippine
Coast barely 220 km away it falls within
the exclusive economic zone of the
Philippines and this is a United Nations
convention
a country exclusively controls the sea
up to 370 km away from its Coast it's
their exclusive economic
zone and the scabo Falls well within
that limit for the Philippines but China
does not care it does not follow
international law instead Beijing tries
to Pedal this the infamous n-h line
China came up with this it first
published these nine dashes in the mid
20th century and it declared that
everything within these dashes was
Chinese territory everything within the
nine dashes belongs to
China what's the basis of this claim
apparently it's been like that since
quote unquote ancient times and this
ancient times argument is something that
Beijing loves to use they use it in
every dispute the scabo sh some Japanese
Islands even the Indian state of
arunachal Pradesh as far as Beijing is
concerned it was all Chinese in ancient
times so China says it has a right to
all these
territories these are all bogus claims
no tax collectors from Beijing were
shaking down villages villagers here in
any of the disputed
areas the nine dash line is not even a
serious border doc document it looks
like some child Emperor's drawing that
to a child who could not draw straight
lines
yet but despite this Beijing keeps
making claims based on these meaningless
dashes even though intern naal courts
have ruled that that it has no legal
basis and the Philippines has borne the
brunt of this China sees the cabaro
should back in 2012 it has been
harassing Philippine ships ever since
and now Manila says Beijing has put up a
barrier around the shore a 380 M
floating barrier to prevent Filipino
fishermen from accessing the
area China tried this last year as well
but the Philippines cut that one down
they will probably cut down the new
barrier as well and all this just shows
what a nuisance it is having China as
your neighbor it's something we in India
know quite well and we wish Manila the
best of luck
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