Scarborough Shoal Dispute: Tensions Escalate between China and the Philippines

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Adil Javed

The latest feud between China and the Philippines in the disputed South China Sea was set off by the Philippine coastguard's removal of a floating barrier that China had deployed at Scarborough Shoal. 

China claims the shoal as its territory, while the Philippines says it is within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

China has warned the Philippines not to "stir up trouble" after the barrier was removed. 

The Philippines has said it will take "all appropriate actions" to protect its sovereignty and maritime rights.

The dispute over Scarborough Shoal has been simmering for years. In 2012, China seized control of the shoal after a standoff with the Philippines.

Recent developments

• On September 25, 2023, the Philippine coastguard removed a floating barrier that China had deployed at Scarborough Shoal. The barrier was blocking Filipino fishermen from accessing the traditional fishing ground.
• China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin condemned the removal of the barrier, saying it was a violation of China's sovereignty and maritime rights. He warned the Philippines not to "provoke or stir up trouble."
• The Philippine government defended the removal of the barrier, saying it was necessary to protect the country's sovereignty and maritime rights. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said that the Philippines would "continue to assert its rights" in the South China Sea.

The latest dispute over Scarborough Shoal is a sign of the growing tensions between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea. 

China has been increasingly assertive in its claims to the South China Sea, which has led to disputes with several other countries in the region, including the Philippines, Vietnam, and Malaysia.

The United States has also been involved in the dispute, conducting freedom of navigation operations (FONOPs) to challenge China's territorial claims.

The dispute over the South China Sea is one of the most contentious issues in the Asia-Pacific region. 

It is important to note that there is no international consensus on the legality of China's claims to the the Sea.

What’s the history behind the dispute?

The recent incident at Scarborough Shoal is just the latest example of escalating tensions between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea. 

The two countries have long-standing territorial disputes in the region, most notably over the Spratly Islands.

China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, a claim that is disputed by several other countries, including the Philippines, Vietnam, and Malaysia. 

Beijing's claim was nullified by a 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, which found that it had no legal basis. However, China has refused to accept the ruling.

In recent years, China has become increasingly assertive in its claims to the South China Sea, building artificial islands and military facilities in the region. 

This has led to concerns among other claimant countries that China is trying to militarize the South China Sea and expand its control over the region's strategic waterways.

The Philippines has been particularly vocal in its opposition to China's actions in the South China Sea. 

In recent months, the Philippine government has filed a series of diplomatic protests against China and has sought to strengthen its military alliances with the United States and other countries in the region.

What’s the latest tussle over?

On Friday, the Philippine coastguard discovered a 300-meter (985-foot) barrier during a routine patrol in the South China Sea. 

The barrier was guarded by Chinese coastguard boats.

When Filipino fishermen approached the area, four Chinese coastguard vessels issued 15 radio challenges in an attempt to drive them away.

On Monday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry's Wang Wenbin justified the move, saying that the Chinese coastguard took necessary measures in accordance with the law to drive away the Filipino fishermen.

Later on Monday, Filipino authorities removed the buoys on the orders of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., angering Beijing.

In other words, China deployed a barrier at a disputed area in the South China Sea, blocking Filipino fishermen from accessing traditional fishing grounds. The Philippines removed the barrier, angering China.

The incident is a sign of the growing tensions between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea. 

China has been increasingly assertive in its territorial claims in the region, which has led to disputes with several other countries, including the Philippines, Vietnam, and Malaysia.

What is the Scarborough Shoal and who has claimed it?

The Scarborough Shoal was first named by the British after their merchant ship, the Scarborough, was shipwrecked there in 1748.

In recent decades, China has claimed the shoal as its territory, calling it Huangyan Island. However, the Permanent Court of Arbitration has ruled that the shoal is not an island and does not generate an exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

In 2012, China seized control of the shoal, forcing Filipino fishermen to travel farther for smaller catches.

The Philippines continues to insist that it has fishing rights over the shoal because it is within its EEZ.

In simpler terms:

• The Scarborough Shoal is a group of reefs and rocks in the South China Sea.
• China claims the shoal as its territory, but the Philippines says it is within its EEZ.
• In 2012, China seized control of the shoal, making it difficult for Filipino fishermen to fish there.
• The Philippines continues to insist that it has fishing rights over the shoal.

The dispute over the Scarborough Shoal is one of several territorial disputes between China and its neighbors in the South China Sea. The region is rich in natural resources and strategically important for shipping.

What does international law say?

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which China helped to create and ratified in 1996, defines an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) as a 200-nautical-mile (370-kilometer) area extending from a country's coastline. 

Within its EEZ, a country has the exclusive right to explore and exploit the natural resources of the water, seabed, and subsoil.

Scarborough Shoal is within the EEZ of the Philippines because it is 120 nautical miles (222 kilometers) from the Philippine island of Luzon. 

In contrast, Scarborough Shoal is about 594 nautical miles (1,100 kilometers) from China's Hainan Island.

In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled that Scarborough Shoal is not an island, but a rock feature, and is therefore not entitled to an EEZ or a continental shelf. This ruling nullified China's claim to Scarborough Shoal.

China did not participate in the arbitration case and has said that it will not recognize the ruling.

In simpler terms:

• UNCLOS gives countries the exclusive right to explore and exploit the natural resources within their EEZ.
• Scarborough Shoal is within the EEZ of the Philippines, not China.
• An international court has ruled that Scarborough Shoal is not an island and therefore not entitled to an EEZ.
• China has rejected the ruling.

The dispute over Scarborough Shoal is one of several territorial disputes between China and its neighbors in the South China Sea. The region is rich in natural resources and strategically important for shipping.

Key Takeaways from the Article: 

• The latest dispute between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea was triggered by the removal of a floating barrier deployed by China at Scarborough Shoal, a disputed area.

• China claims Scarborough Shoal as its territory, while the Philippines argues that it falls within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

• Tensions between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea have been escalating, driven by China's assertive territorial claims and military activities in the region.

• China's claims over almost the entire South China Sea have been challenged by several countries, including the Philippines, Vietnam, and Malaysia.

• An international court ruling in 2016 invalidated China's claim to Scarborough Shoal, stating it is not an island and does not generate an EEZ, but China has refused to accept this ruling.

• The United States has also been involved in the South China Sea dispute, conducting freedom of navigation operations (FONOPs) to challenge China's territorial claims.

• The dispute over the South China Sea remains a contentious issue in the Asia-Pacific region, with no international consensus on the legality of China's claims.

• The Scarborough Shoal dispute highlights the ongoing struggle for control of the South China Sea's strategic waterways and valuable natural resources.