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.

Outlines

00:00

🚢 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.

05:01

🛑 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.

10:01

🌏 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.

Keywords

💡Chinese vessel

A 'Chinese vessel' refers to a ship that is operated under the jurisdiction of China. In the context of the video, it is involved in a collision incident with Philippine boats, which is a key event that triggers the subsequent discussions on maritime tensions and territorial disputes in the South China Sea.

💡Philippine boats

The term 'Philippine boats' denotes boats that belong to or are operated by the Philippines. They are central to the incident described in the video, where they are involved in a collision with a Chinese vessel near the Sabina Shoal, highlighting the ongoing maritime conflicts in the region.

💡Sabina Shoal

Sabina Shoal, also known as Escoda Shoal, is a naturally occurring submerged sand body in the South China Sea. It is the location of the collision between the Chinese vessel and the Philippine boats. The shoal is significant in the video as it is claimed by both China and the Philippines, representing a focal point of territorial dispute.

💡Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)

An Exclusive Economic Zone, or EEZ, is a maritime zone prescribed by international law, within which a state has special rights regarding the exploration and use of marine resources. In the video, the EEZ is mentioned as the area where the Sabina Shoal is located, which Manila claims falls within its jurisdiction, indicating a key aspect of the territorial dispute.

💡Territorial claims

Territorial claims refer to the assertions made by a country regarding the areas it considers to be within its sovereignty. The video discusses the territorial claims of both the Philippines and China over the South China Sea, particularly focusing on the Sabina Shoal and the strategic military implications of these claims.

💡BRP Sierra Madre

BRP Sierra Madre is a World War II vintage ship that the Philippine Navy intentionally grounded on the Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas Shoal) as a means to reinforce its territorial claim. The ship is a symbol of the Philippines' commitment to its claims in the South China Sea and is mentioned in the video as a point of contention in the ongoing maritime disputes.

💡Mischief Reef

Mischief Reef is a feature in the South China Sea that has been the subject of territorial disputes. The video describes how China seized control of the reef in the 1990s, using it as an example of China's tactics in asserting its claims in the region and the concerns it raises for other claimant states like the Philippines.

💡Maritime confrontations

Maritime confrontations refer to incidents at sea involving opposing naval or coast guard vessels. The video details several such incidents between Chinese and Philippine vessels near the disputed shoals, illustrating the escalating tensions and the potential for conflict in the region.

💡Mutual Defense Treaty

A Mutual Defense Treaty is an agreement between two or more states to provide military support to each other in the event of an attack. The video mentions the Mutual Defense Treaty between the US and the Philippines, emphasizing the international dimensions of the South China Sea disputes and the potential involvement of external powers.

💡De-escalation

De-escalation refers to the process of reducing tensions or the severity of a conflict. The video discusses the efforts by the Philippines to de-escalate tensions in the disputed areas with its counterparts, without compromising its position and principles, indicating the diplomatic challenges faced in managing these maritime disputes.

💡Artificial Island

An artificial island is a human-made landform built on water bodies. The video raises concerns about China's alleged plans to construct an artificial island on the Escoda Shoal (Sabina Shoal), similar to its activities elsewhere in the South China Sea, which would further complicate the territorial disputes and escalate tensions.

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

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