China Accused of Intrusion into Philippine Waters in South China Sea Dispute
The Philippine foreign ministry has accused China of intruding into its waters following an incident involving military vessels from both countries at a disputed shoal in the South China Sea earlier this week. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) dismissed China’s claim that a Philippine military ship had “illegally entered” waters near the Scarborough Shoal, stating that it had no legal basis and only served to escalate tensions in the disputed waterway. In a statement, the foreign ministry asserted, “It is China that is intruding into Philippine waters.”
Both the Philippines and China lay claim to the Scarborough Shoal, although no sovereignty has been officially established. Since China seized control of the shoal from Manila in 2012, it has remained effectively under Beijing’s authority. The DFA emphasized that the shoal, referred to as “Bajo de Masinloc,” is within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, granting the country sovereign rights and jurisdiction over it. The foreign ministry demanded that Chinese vessels in Bajo de Masinloc leave the area immediately.
Located 200 km (124 miles) off the coast of the Philippines, the shoal was the subject of an arbitration claim filed by Manila at an international tribunal. In 2016, the court ruled that China’s claim to 90% of the South China Sea had no basis under international law. However, China has refused to recognize the ruling.
The Philippines presidential office announced that South China Sea matters will be discussed during bilateral talks between Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and President Ferdinand Marcos on Friday. Kishida is scheduled to arrive in Manila for a two-day visit. Prior to the visit, the Japan defense ministry revealed the delivery of the first air surveillance radar system to the Philippine military as part of a 2020 contract between the Philippines’ defense department and Mitsubishi Electric Corp.
The situation in the South China Sea remains tense as territorial disputes persist between various nations in the region.
