The Chinese coast guard ships followed a group of Filipino activists and fishermen as they sailed toward a disputed shoal in the South China Sea, prompting the Philippine coast guard to deploy patrol ships and a plane to monitor the situation. The Philippines previously won a 2016 tribunal ruling invalidating China’s claims in the South China Sea, including the Scarborough Shoal. Despite the Chinese coast guard’s presence, the Filipino activists remained determined to assert Manila’s sovereignty over the shoal and surrounding waters during the three-day voyage.
The convoy of about 100 people, including journalists, set off in wooden boats from Zambales province to reach the area of the disputed shoal. As the Filipino boats continued their journey, Chinese coast guard ships began shadowing them, but the participants remained resolute and chanted slogans asserting their claim to the area. The Filipinos were determined to continue their course, while the Philippine coast guard maintained a close distance to prevent any further interference from the Chinese ships. The activists planned to lay down symbolic territorial buoys and provide support to Filipino fishermen in the vicinity of the shoal upon arrival.
Despite facing potential confrontations, the group reiterated that their mission was peaceful and aimed at upholding international law and asserting their sovereign rights. The organizers emphasized that their efforts were not meant to provoke, but rather to civilianize the region and safeguard the Philippines’ territorial integrity. This expedition followed a previous attempt to reach another disputed shoal, which was cut short after being trailed by a Chinese ship. Scarborough Shoal was effectively seized by China in 2012 after a standoff with Philippine government ships, leading to increased tensions in the region.
The Philippines’ decision to challenge China’s territorial claims through international arbitration in 2013 resulted in a tribunal ruling three years later that invalidated China’s expansive assertions in the South China Sea. Despite the ruling declaring Scarborough Shoal a traditional fishing area for multiple nations, China has continued to defy the decision and impose its control over the disputed waters. Recent incidents at the shoal, including the use of water cannons on Philippine vessels, have further exacerbated tensions between the two countries. The Philippines has sought to gain international support by publicizing its territorial disputes with China and inviting journalists to witness the events in the South China Sea.
In addition to the Philippines and China, other countries such as Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan have also been involved in territorial disputes in the South China Sea. Chinese coast guard ships have encroached on waters near various Southeast Asian nations, leading to protests and heightened tensions in the region. Despite concerns about potential armed conflicts between China and the United States, the Philippines has continued its efforts to assert its sovereignty over the disputed shoals and waters. The ongoing hostilities have resulted in minor collisions, injuries to Filipino navy personnel, and damage to supply boats, underscoring the fragile nature of the territorial disputes in the South China Sea.
