Beijing: In a highly symbolic display, China’s coast guard held a National Day flag-raising ceremony aboard its patrol vessel Dahao (3304) in the waters surrounding the Scarborough Shoal, a disputed atoll in the South China Sea. The event, captured in a video shared on Douyin China’s equivalent of TikTok showed officers saluting the Chinese flag while pledging to “stand guard” over the waters, reinforcing Beijing’s assertion of sovereignty over the strategically significant maritime feature.
The Scarborough Shoal, also known in the Philippines as Panatag Shoal, has been a persistent flashpoint between China and the Philippines. Although the 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling favored Manila, declaring China’s blockade unlawful and a violation of international law, China maintains effective control over the area, having seized it after a 2012 standoff with the Philippines. The shoal remains a vital fishing ground for regional communities, which further complicates the dispute.
Tensions around the shoal have periodically flared, with incidents involving water cannon use, ramming of vessels, and close maritime maneuvers by Chinese coast guard ships, which Philippine authorities have criticized as dangerously provocative. Chinese and Philippine aircraft have also shadowed each other over the contested waters, though no armed conflict has yet erupted.
The ceremony coincided with China’s announcement of plans to designate the Scarborough Shoal as a “national” nature reserve, a move condemned by Manila as a potential pretext for militarization and environmental disruption. The Philippine coast guard has previously labeled Chinese deployments in the area, including the Dahao vessel, as illegal, highlighting the ongoing diplomatic friction in the South China Sea.
Regional analysts note that while this display reinforces China’s maritime claims, it risks further destabilizing an already volatile region. Both Manila and Beijing continue to accuse each other of provocation and trespassing, underscoring the delicate balance in one of the world’s busiest and most strategically sensitive waterways.