Last Monday (August 26th, 2024), tensions in the South China Sea escalated again as China and the Philippines clashed near Sabina Shoal. The shoal is a disputed 22-kilometer stretch of uninhabited reefs, within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. China, however, claims it as part of its territory, along with the Spratly Islands.
Around 3 a.m. local time, the Chinese Coast Guard reported that two Philippine Coast Guard vessels “illegally intruded” near the shoal, with one allegedly colliding with a Chinese ship. Video footage released by China seems to show a Chinese vessel pushing a Philippine boat away. The Philippines countered, claiming their vessels encountered “dangerous and illegal manoeuvres” by Chinese ships, leading to damage, including a one-meter puncture in one of the Philippine boats.
An agreement aimed at easing tensions in the South China Sea following a violent clash in June has had only minimal impact.
The latest clash in the ongoing China-Philippines maritime dispute follows a series of escalations. In June, Chinese Coast Guard boats rammed Philippine rubber boats near Second Thomas Shoal, injuring a Filipino crew member.
Tensions peaked in July when both nations agreed on terms for resupplying the Philippine outpost on Second Thomas Shoal. Although the mission proceeded smoothly, the deal’s impact was limited, and its text remains undisclosed, with both sides interpreting it differently.
In August, Chinese planes dropped flares in front of a Philippine aircraft over Scarborough Shoal, increasing tensions in the South China Sea even more.
U.S. Reaffirms Commitment to Pacific Allies
In April, President Joe Biden reinforced the United States’ “ironclad” defense commitment to its Pacific allies during a White House meeting with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. The discussion occurred amid growing concerns over China’s aggressive military actions in the Indo-Pacific. “Our defense commitments to Japan and the Philippines are ironclad,” Biden stated at the start of White House talks with Kishida and Marcos. “Any attack on Philippine aircraft, vessels, or forces in the South China Sea will trigger our mutual defense treaty.”
The U.S. and the Philippines have upheld a mutual defense treaty for over 70 years. Biden’s strong reaffirmation comes as clashes between the Philippine and Chinese coast guards continue in the disputed South China Sea.
