🎙️ Voice is AI-generated. Inconsistencies may occur.
The Philippines is publicizing the movements of the Chinese Coast Guard, which continues to occupy waters off the U.S. ally's maritime zone in the South China Sea.
Newsweek reached out to the Chinese Foreign Ministry and Philippine Coast Guard with written requests for comment.
Why It Matters
The neighbors' long-running dispute, where standoffs have usually been centered on a handful of reefs and rocks within the Philippines' internationally recognized exclusive economic zone (EEZ), has recently come closer to the Southeast Asian country's shores.
For over a week, a succession of the Chinese Coast Guard ships—including one of the largest Coast Guard cutters in the world—have occupied waters less than 100 miles from Zambales province on the Philippines' main island of Luzon and hundreds of miles from the nearest Chinese shores.
What To Know
The Philippines on Wednesday released new photos that show its vessels the BRP Cabra and Suluan patrolling while on their mission to keep the Chinese ships from approaching closer to the Luzon island coast.
Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Jay Tarriela detailed on X (formerly Twitter) the Chinese side's apparent efforts to outmaneuver their large Philippine counterparts.
The Cabra was deployed to relieve the Suluan and continue monitoring China Coast Guard ship No. 3013. However, upon its arrival, another Chinese Coast Guard vessel, No. 3304, approached the areas.
"This indicates that the CCG may anticipate the PCG deploying two vessels in response," Tarriela said, adding that the second Chinese ship pulled back after the Suluan made its scheduled return to port.
"Currently, BRP Cabra is engaged in hourly radio communications with CCG-3103 to remind them of their violations of the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea), and the 2016 arbitral award," Tarriela stated.
The spokesperson was referring to a Hague-based international arbitral court's 2016 decision largely siding with the Philippines and rejecting China's sweeping claims over most of the South China Sea. Beijing refused to take part in the proceedings and maintains the decision is invalid.
What People Are Saying
Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning told reporters Wednesday:
"China's activities in relevant waters are lawful, legitimate and completely justified. We hope that relevant parties will do more things that help enhance mutual trust and cooperation between countries."
Hu Bo, director of Peking University's Center for Maritime Strategy Studies and of the Beijing-based South China Sea Strategic Situation Probing Initiative (SCSPI) think tank, said:
"Whether in terms of operational capacity or determination, the Philippines is likely the weakest among the South China Sea parties [ …] Unless the U.S. directly intervenes to help, there is a ceiling on its ability for on-site infringements and provocations in the region, limiting the potential for major incidents and presenting more of a challenge in gray zone competition."
What's Next?
With an eye toward China, former President Joe Biden and Philippine counterpart Ferdinand Marcos Jr. further strengthened strategic ties, with Washington committing hundreds of millions of dollars in security aid and Manila expanding U.S. military access to more of its bases.
Hu, the Chinese maritime analyst, wrote in a recent article for SCSPI that President Donald Trump had a distaste for the system of alliances favored by the U.S. establishment, predicting the new president would not likely "respect the demands of allies like the Philippines."
However, the Trump administration has signaled it will continue Biden's strong multilateral engagement in the region.
During his second day as secretary of state Wednesday, Marco Rubio discussed the South China Sea issues with his Philippine counterpart, Enrique Manalo. Rubio said China's behavior undermines peace and stability in the region and reiterated Washington's support for its "ironclad" Mutual Defense Treaty with Manila, the State Department said in a statement.
fairness meter
About the writer
Micah McCartney is a reporter for Newsweek based in Taipei, Taiwan. He covers U.S.-China relations, East Asian and Southeast Asian ... Read more