Manila: Tensions between China and the Philippines have risen again after both countries gave sharply different accounts of a new confrontation near the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea. The latest incident is the newest in a series of maritime disputes that have kept relations between the two neighbours under strain despite ongoing diplomatic talks.
China's Coast Guard said on Thursday that it had driven away two Philippine government vessels that entered waters near Scarborough Shoal without permission. Beijing claimed the vessels had illegally entered what it considers its territorial waters and said its coast guard took what it described as necessary control measures to protect China's sovereignty and maritime rights.
The Philippines strongly rejected China's version of events. Philippine officials said the vessels were carrying out a humanitarian mission to deliver supplies to Filipino fishermen working around the shoal, an area that has long been an important fishing ground for local communities. Manila accused Chinese Coast Guard ships of using water cannons against one of the Philippine vessels, calling the action dangerous and unlawful.
Scarborough Shoal lies about 220 kilometres west of the Philippine island of Luzon. Although the Philippines says the shoal falls within its Exclusive Economic Zone under international law, China has maintained effective control of the area since a standoff between the two countries in 2012. Since then, Chinese coast guard ships have regularly patrolled the waters while Philippine fishermen have continued to seek access to the rich fishing grounds.
The latest confrontation comes only a day after senior diplomats from both countries exchanged strong protests during talks in Manila. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Philippine Foreign Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro met on Wednesday to discuss the growing tensions in the South China Sea.
During the meeting, the Philippines protested what it described as China's repeated harassment of Philippine vessels and personnel operating in waters that Manila says are within its lawful maritime zone. China responded by accusing the Philippines of carrying out deliberate provocations and violating Chinese sovereignty. Despite their differences, both sides agreed to keep communication channels open in an effort to prevent further incidents from escalating into a larger conflict.
The dispute has attracted growing international attention as foreign ministers from across the region gather in Manila for the ASEAN Regional Forum. The South China Sea has become one of the main security issues on the agenda, with several countries expressing concern that repeated confrontations could increase the risk of an accident or military escalation.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said countries in the region face important choices about how to respond to increasingly aggressive actions in disputed waters. China responded by saying that countries outside the dispute should avoid interfering and instead support dialogue between the parties directly involved.
The Scarborough Shoal remains one of the most sensitive areas in the South China Sea. China claims almost the entire waterway through its sweeping maritime claims, while the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also claim parts of the sea. The South China Sea is one of the world's busiest shipping routes and is believed to hold valuable fishing resources as well as oil and natural gas reserves.
In 2016, an international arbitration tribunal ruled that China's broad claims in the South China Sea had no legal basis under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The ruling also found that Scarborough Shoal is a traditional fishing ground for several countries. China has consistently rejected the decision and continues to maintain its claims over the disputed waters.
Over the past year, encounters between Chinese and Philippine vessels have become more frequent. Several incidents have involved water cannons, blocking manoeuvres and close approaches at sea, leading to repeated diplomatic protests from both governments. The Philippines has also strengthened security cooperation with allies including the United States, Japan and Australia, while China has criticised what it describes as outside interference in regional disputes.
Analysts say the latest incident shows that while diplomatic discussions continue, neither Beijing nor Manila appears willing to change its position on the territorial dispute. With both countries continuing regular patrols and maritime operations in contested waters, the possibility of further confrontations remains high. Regional leaders continue to urge restraint and peaceful dialogue to prevent tensions from developing into a wider security crisis in the South China Sea.