A group of Filipino activists and fishermen sailed towards the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, despite being shadowed by Chinese coast guard ships. The Philippine coast guard deployed patrol ships and a plane to keep an eye on the group of about 100 people who were asserting Manila’s sovereignty over the area. Dozens of journalists also joined the three-day voyage. The convoy set off from Zambales province and planned to lay down symbolic territorial buoys and provide food packs and fuel to Filipino fishermen in the region.
The group chanted “Atin Ito” meaning “This is ours” in Tagalog, showing their determination to continue their course despite the presence of Chinese coast guard ships. The Filipino boats were still far from the shoal when the Chinese ships began shadowing them, but the participants were undeterred and remained in high spirits. The organizers stated that they were prepared for any contingencies and planned to avoid confrontations while peacefully asserting their sovereign rights based on international law. The convoy was expected to reach the area of the shoal in the morning.
China’s control over Scarborough Shoal was contested after a standoff with Philippine government ships in 2012. However, a 2016 tribunal ruling invalidated China’s claims in the South China Sea, declaring Scarborough Shoal a traditional fishing area for Chinese, Filipino, and Vietnamese fishermen. Despite the ruling, China continued to defy it and recently used water cannons on Philippine coast guard and fisheries ships patrolling the shoal, damaging both vessels. The Philippines condemned the Chinese coast guard’s actions and vowed to safeguard its rights.
China’s increasing assertiveness in the region has also involved territorial disputes with Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan. Chinese coast guard ships have ventured into waters close to these countries, sparking tensions and protests. However, the Southeast Asian nations, with considerable economic ties to China, have not been as vocally critical of Beijing’s actions. The Philippines has released videos of its encounters with China in an effort to gain international support and highlight the hostilities in the region.
The skirmishes between the Philippines and China have led to minor collisions, injuries to Filipino navy personnel, and damage to supply boats. There are fears that these territorial disputes could escalate into an armed conflict between China and the United States, a long-time treaty ally of the Philippines. Despite the tensions, the Philippines continues to assert its sovereignty over the disputed areas, using international law as the basis for its claims. The presence of journalists and the public nature of these confrontations reflect the Philippines’ strategy to gain international attention and support in their territorial disputes with China.
