China Militarises Island near the Philippines: How will Manila React? | Vantage with Palki Sharma

Firstpost

9 Aug 202408:46

Summary

TLDRTensions between China and the Philippines over the South China Sea have recently subsided due to a temporary agreement allowing Manila to resupply its outpost without interference from the Chinese Coast Guard. However, China's activities continue, as seen in the militarization of Subi Reef, a disputed area in the Spratly Islands. The Philippines is seeking international support, signing defense deals and conducting joint military drills with several nations to counter China's ongoing incursions and territorial claims.

Takeaways

🌏 Tensions between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea have been high due to Chinese Coast Guard's incursions into what is considered the West Philippine Sea.
🛡️ China has been accused of violating Manila's territory and obstructing Filipino ships, leading to incidents such as a sailor losing his thumb in an attack.
📜 A temporary deal was negotiated between China and the Philippines, allowing Manila to resupply its outpost in the Second Thomas Scha without harassment from Chinese vessels.
🏝️ Despite the temporary deal, China continues its activities at Subbi Reef, building artificial islands and militarizing them with structures, harbors, and runways.
🔄 The Spratly Islands are disputed territories claimed by several countries, including the Philippines, China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei.
🔒 China has militarized not only Subbi Reef but also Mischief Reef and Johnson Reef, installing anti-aircraft and anti-missile systems on these artificial islands.
🚢 Even after the temporary de-escalation deal, 122 Chinese vessels were observed in the West Philippine Sea within a week, indicating ongoing incursions.
🤝 The Philippines is seeking international partnerships to counter the Chinese threat, signing a defense agreement with Germany and conducting joint military drills with the US, Australia, Canada, and Vietnam.
🇵🇭 Manila believes that the militarized islands are being used as staging areas for Chinese activities in Filipino waters, which poses a strategic threat.
🛰️ The Filipino Navy has confirmed the presence of military-grade communication equipment on Subbi Reef, indicating a significant military presence.
🌳 The script also mentions a news initiative called 'One Tree for Humanity', aiming to combat climate change by planting trees, showing a broader context of global issues.

Q & A

What was the main cause of tension between China and the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea?
-The main cause of tension was the repeated incursions by Chinese Coast Guard ships into the West Philippine Sea, which belongs to the Philippines, leading to confrontations and aggressive actions.
How did China and the Philippines attempt to deescalate the situation in the West Philippine Sea?
-China and the Philippines negotiated a temporary deal that allowed Manila to resupply its outpost in the Second Thomas Shoal without harassment from Chinese vessels.
What was China's response to the temporary agreement with the Philippines?
-China agreed to the temporary deal at the Second Thomas Shoal, but continued its militarization activities in other disputed areas, such as the Subi Reef.
What did the video mentioned in the script reveal about Chinese activities at Subi Reef?
-The video showed extensive Chinese construction at Subi Reef, including buildings, a harbor, hangars, and a massive runway, indicating significant militarization.
Which countries claim the Spratly Islands, including Subi Reef?
-The Spratly Islands are claimed by the Philippines, China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei.
How has China militarized the artificial islands in the Spratly Islands?
-China has built artificial islands like Subi Reef, Mischief Reef, and Johnson Reef, equipping them with airstrips, harbors, military-grade communications, and anti-aircraft and anti-missile guns.
What recent actions did the Philippines take to counter Chinese aggression in the West Philippine Sea?
-The Philippines signed a defense agreement with Germany and conducted joint naval drills with the US, Australia, Canada, and Vietnam to strengthen its defense capabilities.
Why is the Philippines seeking partnerships with other countries?
-The Philippines is seeking partnerships to strengthen its defense against China, hoping that with enough international support, it can deter further Chinese aggression.
How did the Chinese Coast Guard's aggression impact Filipino sailors?
-The aggression led to injuries, including a Filipino sailor losing his thumb after a Chinese Coast Guard attack with knives and an axe.
What is the significance of the joint drills between the Filipino and Vietnamese coast guards?
-The joint drills signify cooperation between the Philippines and Vietnam, despite their own territorial disputes, in countering China's aggressive actions in the region.

Outlines

00:00

🌏 Territorial Tensions in Southeast Asia

The first paragraph discusses the ongoing territorial disputes between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea, specifically the West Philippine Sea. It highlights the aggressive actions of the Chinese Coast Guard, including the violation of Philippine territory and the militarization of artificial islands such as Subbi Reef. The paragraph also mentions a temporary deal between the two nations that led to a decrease in direct clashes, but notes that China continues its incursions and militarization efforts in other disputed areas. The Philippines is seeking international partnerships, including defense agreements and joint military exercises with countries like Germany, the US, Australia, Canada, and Vietnam, to counter the Chinese threat.

05:00

🤝 Regional Cooperation Amidst Territorial Disputes

The second paragraph shifts focus to the strategic cooperation between the Philippines and Vietnam, two countries with their own territorial disputes, who have decided to collaborate against China's influence in the region.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡West Philippine Sea

The West Philippine Sea refers to the portion of the South China Sea that lies within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ). It is a contested area with significant geopolitical importance, as several countries, including China, claim parts of it. In the video, the West Philippine Sea is highlighted as the region where Chinese Coast Guard ships have been entering, leading to clashes with the Philippines.

💡Chinese Coast Guard

The Chinese Coast Guard is a maritime force responsible for enforcing China's claims in the South China Sea, including the disputed West Philippine Sea. In the video, the Chinese Coast Guard is depicted as frequently violating the Philippines' territorial waters, obstructing and attacking Filipino vessels, escalating tensions between the two nations.

💡Second Thomas Shoal

Second Thomas Shoal, also known as Ayungin Shoal, is a disputed territory in the South China Sea claimed by both the Philippines and China. The video mentions a temporary arrangement between China and the Philippines, allowing Manila to resupply its outpost there, reflecting a momentary de-escalation in the ongoing tension.

💡Subi Reef

Subi Reef is an artificial island built by China in the disputed Spratly Islands within the South China Sea. The video shows footage of the extensive militarization of Subi Reef, including the construction of buildings, a harbor, hangars, and a runway. This militarization exemplifies China's strategy of solidifying its claims over disputed territories.

💡Spratly Islands

The Spratly Islands are a group of islands and reefs in the South China Sea, claimed by several countries, including the Philippines, China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei. In the video, the Spratly Islands are mentioned as a highly contested area where China has been building artificial islands, like Subi Reef, to strengthen its territorial claims.

💡Militarization

Militarization refers to the process of equipping an area or territory with military resources and infrastructure. In the video, China is described as militarizing artificial islands like Subi Reef, Mischief Reef, and Johnson Reef in the South China Sea, which includes building airstrips, harbors, and installing anti-aircraft and anti-missile guns, thereby escalating tensions with neighboring countries.

💡Temporary De-escalation Deal

The temporary de-escalation deal refers to an agreement between China and the Philippines that allowed for a temporary reduction in hostilities in the South China Sea. The deal permitted the Philippines to resupply its outpost in the Second Thomas Shoal without interference from China. However, the video suggests that China's actions at other disputed sites, like Subi Reef, indicate a lack of genuine commitment to reducing tensions.

💡122 Chinese Vessels

The 122 Chinese vessels mentioned in the video refer to the large number of Chinese ships observed in the West Philippine Sea between July 30th and August 5th, after the signing of the temporary de-escalation deal. This highlights China's continued aggressive posture in the region, despite the agreement with the Philippines.

💡Defense Agreement with Germany

The defense agreement with Germany refers to a pact signed by the Philippines and Germany to strengthen military cooperation, including joint training and the potential sale of German weapons. This agreement is part of the Philippines' strategy to build alliances to counterbalance China's influence and activities in the South China Sea.

💡Joint Military Drills

Joint military drills are exercises conducted by multiple countries' armed forces to enhance cooperation and readiness. In the video, the Philippines conducted joint drills with the United States, Australia, Canada, and Vietnam in the disputed waters of the South China Sea. These drills are part of the Philippines' strategy to show strength and unity with its allies against Chinese aggression.

Highlights

Shift in focus to Southeast Asia, specifically the tension between China and the Philippines.

Chinese Coast Guard's regular incursions into the West Philippine Sea, an area belonging to the Philippines.

Beijing's disregard for borders and territorial violations by the Chinese Coast Guard.

Incidents of obstruction and attacks on Filipino ships by the Chinese Coast Guard, including a violent incident where a sailor lost his thumb.

Peak tensions between Manila and Beijing due to the constant clashes.

China's three-point principal positions on handling the current situation and a temporary arrangement with the Philippines.

Negotiated deal allowing Manila to resupply its outpost in the Second Thomas Scha without harassment from Chinese vessels.

Surveillance video showing the extent of Chinese activity at Subbi Reef, including artificial island construction and militarization.

China's building of artificial islands like Subbi Reef and subsequent militarization efforts.

The Spratly Islands dispute involving multiple countries, including the Philippines, China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei.

Philippines' confirmation of militarization at Subbi Reef, including air strips, harbors, and military-grade communication equipment.

China's militarization of other artificial islands, Mischief Reef and Johnson Reef, within disputed territories.

Manila's claims that China's militarized islands fall within Filipino territory.

High number of Chinese vessels (122) spotted in the West Philippine Sea post temporary de-escalation deal.

Manila's efforts to find international partners to counter the Chinese threat, including a defense agreement with Germany.

Joint military drills between the Philippines, US, Australia, and Canada as a show of force in disputed waters.

First-ever joint drills between the Filipino and Vietnamese coast guards to counter China, despite their own territorial disputes.

The strategy of the Philippines to leverage partnerships to potentially deter China's actions in the South China Sea.