The Philippine government slammed China on Monday for “repeated aggressive, unprofessional and illegal” actions in the South China Sea after a string of clashes and incidents on air and at sea over the past week.
Unsafe Manoeuvres by Chinese Aircraft
The Philippines’ national maritime council reported that Chinese aircraft conducted unsafe manoeuvres against a civilian aircraft patrolling over the Scarborough Shoal and Subi Reef. These actions have raised concerns about the safety and professionalism of China’s military operations in the contested waters.
Tensions Escalate at Sea
In a separate incident on Sunday, Chinese vessels were accused of blocking, ramming, and firing water cannons at a Philippine government fisheries vessel during a resupply mission for Filipino fishermen at Sabina Shoal.
These actions were deemed “alarming” by the maritime council, which questioned China’s commitment to de-escalating tensions in the region. The council urged China to return to constructive dialogue and respect international norms.
Defence Minister’s Response
Philippine Defence Minister Gilberto Teodoro labelled China’s actions as “patently illegal” and emphasised the need for the Philippines to be prepared for such behaviour from China. He stressed that these actions are part of an ongoing struggle, and the Philippines must anticipate and respond to these provocations.
The incident at Sabina Shoal saw Manila’s South China Sea task force accusing Chinese vessels of ramming a Philippine fisheries vessel that was delivering essential supplies to Filipino fishermen. In response, the Chinese coast guard claimed that the Philippine vessel had ignored warnings and deliberately rammed a Chinese law enforcement boat, leading to the collision.
Continued Tensions
Another incident occurred on Monday near the same shoal. China’s Coast Guard claimed it had taken “control measures” against two Philippine coast guard vessels that allegedly intruded into Chinese-claimed waters. The Philippine authorities have yet to comment on this latest encounter.
Defence Minister Teodoro, when asked if the Sunday incident might trigger mutual defence obligations with the US, cautioned against jumping to conclusions. He emphasised the importance of preventing an armed conflict, noting the US-Philippines mutual defence treaty, under which Washington has pledged to defend the Philippines in the event of an armed attack.
China claims sovereignty over nearly the entire South China Sea, a claim disputed by the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Brunei. Despite a 2016 ruling by an international arbitral tribunal rejecting China’s claim, Beijing continues to assert its control over the contested waters.
(With Inputs from Reuters)
