Despite its commitment to better manage disputes in the contested South China Sea, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) continues to harass Philippine vessels and aircraft lawfully operating in and over the strategic waterway, officials say.
In late August 2024, Manila accused Beijing of “aggressive and dangerous maneuvers” in harassing a resupply mission to Filipino fishermen near Sabina Shoal. Days earlier, Chinese forces at a military outpost on the dredged Subi Reef fired flares near a Philippine aircraft on routine patrol — the second such occurrence in a week following an incident near Scarborough Shoal.
The encounters contradict the PRC’s proclaimed efforts to rebuild trust and deter sea and air confrontations. The nations’ agreement in July 2024 followed a monthslong series of clashes that included Chinese coast guard ships ramming, blocking and firing water cannons at Philippine resupply vessels. The skirmishes culminated with a violent confrontation near a Philippine outpost on Second Thomas Shoal in mid-June 2024 in which Chinese personnel damaged resupply boats and a Philippine Sailor lost a finger.
The PRC asserts sovereignty over most of the South China Sea, including areas claimed by Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. Beijing deploys an armada of coast guard and militia vessels and has militarized reefs and other maritime features to force its claims.
An international tribunal in 2016 ruled that Beijing’s claim had no legal basis, a landmark victory for the Philippines, which filed the case. Beijing continues to ignore the ruling.
The Philippines and the PRC in July agreed to “restore trust” and “rebuild confidence” to manage maritime disputes. That was followed by a provisional arrangement about Manila’s resupply missions to a Philippine Navy ship at Second Thomas Shoal.
“These unprofessional, aggressive and illegal actions posed serious risks to the safety of the Filipino crew and the fishermen they were meant to serve,” Philippine officials said after the Sabina Shoal confrontation.
They said the Philippine Bureau of Fisheries vessel encountered multiple Chinese vessels that deployed “perilous” maneuvers, causing its engine to fail and forcing it to scuttle the resupply mission.
Manila repeated its call for Beijing to halt provocative actions that destabilize regional peace and security.
The incident “calls into question China’s supposed commitment to de-escalate the situation in the area and create a conducive environment for dialogue and consultation,” the Philippine National Maritime Council said.
Manila said it will continue to pursue diplomacy and urged the PRC “to return to the path of constructive dialogue” on South China Sea matters.
Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said the PRC’s actions at Sabina Shoal were “patently illegal.”
“We have to expect these kinds of behavior from China because this is a struggle,” he said.
Manila’s longtime treaty ally the United States reiterated its support for the Philippines.
“Unsafe, unlawful and aggressive conduct by the PRC disrupted a legal Philippine mission, endangering lives,” U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson said on social media.
Meanwhile, Manila also accused Beijing of “unjustifiably” deploying flares from Subi Reef while a Philippine aircraft was conducting a patrol. The aircraft also “faced harassment” from a Chinese fighter jet while conducting surveillance near Scarborough Shoal three days earlier, Philippine officials said.
