Philippines Alleges 'Confrontation' With Beijing in South China Sea

Facts

• On Friday, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) accused the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) of engaging in "dangerous maneuvers" in the South China Sea close to the Philippine-held Second Thomas Shoal on April 23.¹
• The PCG said that two Chinese ships acted aggressively and posed a "significant threat" while approaching one of its vessels, adding that one of the two ships "carried out dangerous maneuvers" about 150 feet from a Philippine ship.²
• However, China claimed that the Philippine vessels had intruded into its waters and its coast guard had acted to safeguard the country's territorial sovereignty and maritime order.³
• The incident occurred as the PCG carried out a routine maritime patrol in the strategic waterway between April 18 and 24, and as Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang visited Manila last weekend to meet his Philippine counterpart and Philippine Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Jr.⁴
• During the week-long patrol, the PCG identified more than 100 "alleged Chinese maritime militia vessels, a People's Liberation Army Navy corvette class, and two China coast guard vessels" within the Philippines' 322km exclusive economic zone.⁵
• China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea and continues to expand and develop military outposts and deploy fishing fleets and coastguard vessels.¹

Sources: ¹Al Jazeera, ²Reuters, ³FT, ⁴Hindustan Times, and ⁵The Straits Times.

Narratives

• Anti-China narrative, as provided by Al Jazeera. The PRC's activities in the South China Sea gravely undermine the universally-recognized naval provisions in international law. This includes the deployment of China's so-called maritime militia in the waters near the Philippines, which harasses and provokes Philippine fishermen and swarms parts of the sea within Manila's exclusive economic zone. Washington has rightfully stepped up its rhetoric and diplomatic efforts to challenge Beijing's provocative moves.
• Pro-China narrative, as provided by Global Times. The PRC has a historical claim over the South China Sea, and its right to regulate military activities in waters that are part of its exclusive economic zone is consistent with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea regulations. However, Washington arbitrarily interprets the convention and uses political manipulation with multiple standards for its own selfish interests.

Predictions