Philippines send fishing vessels to China-claimed Scarborough Shoal | DW News

Summary

Tensions are rising in the South China Sea as the Philippines challenges China's control over the disputed Scarborough Shoal, known to China as Wan'an Dao. Despite the 2016 international court ruling that rejected China's extensive claims, Beijing continues to assert sovereignty, backed by its Coast Guard and fishing boats. The new Philippine administration, under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., is taking a firmer stance, cutting an underwater cable and removing barriers set by China, signaling a shift from previous policies. This move underscores Manila's defiance and the strategic importance of the area for both nations, with implications for regional security and international law.

Takeaways

• 🌏 The South China Sea, particularly the area known as Scarborough Shoal, is a point of contention between the Philippines and China.
• 🚢 China has controlled Scarborough Shoal for the past decade, asserting it as its territory and deploying Coast Guard ships and fishing boats, which are seen as proxies of the Chinese Navy.
• 🐟 The Philippines insists on its fishermen's right to access the waters around Scarborough Shoal, which is a prime fishing ground.
• ✂️ In a show of defiance, the Philippine Coast Guard cut an underwater cable and removed a floating barrier placed by China to restrict access to the shoal.
• 🏝️ Scarborough Shoal, seized by China in 2012, is strategically important and is closer to the Philippines (100-150 miles) than to China (approximately 500 miles).
• 🤝 The new Philippine administration under Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has restored security ties with the US, which has raised concerns in Beijing.
• 🏛️ The Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled in 2016 that China's claim to most of the South China Sea had no basis under international law, a ruling China does not recognize.
• 🌐 China's claim over the South China Sea, including Scarborough Shoal (referred to by China as Wan Island), is seen as an attempt to safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights.
• 🔄 The situation in the South China Sea affects not only the Philippines but also other maritime neighbors such as Vietnam, Taiwan, and Malaysia, straining regional relations.
• 🔄 The Philippines' new approach under the current administration is to assert its rights under international law and protect its national interests, despite China's continued aggression.

Q & A

What is the significance of the Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea disputes?

The Scarborough Shoal is significant because it is a prime fishing ground that both China and the Philippines claim as part of their territory. China has controlled it for the past decade, while the Philippines insists on its fishermen's right to access the waters.

How does China justify its claim over the Scarborough Shoal?

China justifies its claim by stating that it is part of its sovereign territory, backed by historical claims and asserting that it has jurisdiction over the area for centuries.

What action has the Philippines taken recently to assert its rights in the Scarborough Shoal?

The Philippines has shown growing defiance by cutting an underwater cable and removing a 300-meter floating barrier placed by China to prevent Philippine fishing vessels from accessing the Scarborough Shoal.

What was the outcome of the case the Philippines took to the Permanent Court of Arbitration regarding the South China Sea?

The Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled in 2016 that China's claim to most of the South China Sea had no basis under international law, a ruling that China does not recognize.

How has the new administration under Ferdinand Marcos Jr. approached the South China Sea issue differently from the previous Duterte administration?

The new administration has taken a more assertive stance, realizing that Chinese aggression continues regardless of their friendly or accommodating policies. They are focusing on asserting their rights by international law and protecting national interests.

Why is the South China Sea strategically important to China?

The South China Sea is crucial for China as it is a gateway to countries in Southeast and Northeast Asia and is a critical maritime zone for securing national security. It is also surrounded by the allies of the United States, which makes it a geopolitical concern for China.

What is the international legal basis for the Philippines' claim in the South China Sea?

The Philippines bases its claim on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which outlines the sovereign rights and jurisdiction over maritime areas.

How does China's claim over the South China Sea affect its relations with other maritime neighbors?

China's expansive claims and actions in the South China Sea have strained relations with its maritime neighbors, including Vietnam, Taiwan, and Malaysia, as they also have claims or interests in the region.

What steps has China taken to back its claims in the South China Sea?

China has built man-made military islands and conducts naval patrols in the region to assert its claims. It has also used Coast Guard ships and fishing boats as proxies to enforce its presence.

Why does the Philippines refer to the South China Sea as the West Philippine Sea?

The Philippines refers to the part of the South China Sea where it has sovereignty and sovereign rights as the West Philippine Sea, distinguishing its claim from China's broader claims in the region.

What is the distance of the Scarborough Shoal from the Philippines and China, and how does this relate to their claims?

The Scarborough Shoal is approximately 100 to 150 nautical miles from the Philippines and about 500 nautical miles from China. The Philippines argues that the shoal is within its exclusive economic zone, while China claims it as part of its territory despite the distance.