On August 12, Philippines Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo announced that the country would be lodging a diplomatic protest against China following an incident involving the Chinese military and the Philippine air force. The dispute arose when two Chinese aircraft released flares in the path of a Philippine patrol plane on August 8, a move deemed “unjustified, illegal,” and “very dangerous” by Philippine officials.
Philippines Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro highlighted that this behavior by Beijing in the South China Sea is part of a “continuous pattern” that the Philippines must become accustomed to. Despite this, Teodoro urged China to adhere to international laws.
The Philippines’ National Security Council also called on China to halt all provocative and hazardous actions. The Chinese embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Dispute Over Scarborough Shoal
The incident took place over the Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, a 58-square-mile atoll that has been a point of contention between the Philippines and China for years.
While Philippine fishermen frequently visit the atoll, China asserts ownership of the territory and regularly displays its military presence in the area.
In 2012, the Philippines initiated legal arbitration, resulting in a 2016 ruling by The Hague’s Permanent Court of Arbitration in favor of the Philippines. Despite this, China refused to accept the ruling and continued to claim jurisdiction over the area.
China’s claim to nearly the entire South China Sea has sparked tension with neighboring countries like Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia, and Taiwan, all of which rely on the region for fishing and trade. The South China Sea sees approximately $3 trillion in annual trade and is believed to contain significant oil and natural gas reserves.
Previous conflicts in the region have involved Chinese vessels colliding with Philippine boats and even the use of handheld weapons by crews. A provisional agreement reached on July 24 aimed to reduce tensions and prevent skirmishes.
Philippines President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. condemned the Chinese military’s actions on August 8 as unjustified and illegal, particularly given that the Philippine patrol plane was operating in Philippine sovereign airspace on a routine maritime security mission.
China’s military responded to the accusations by asserting its “indisputable” ownership of the territory and claiming that its actions were professional, standard, justified, and lawful. The Chinese military accused the Philippine patrol plane of intruding on Chinese military exercises.
Teodoro reiterated the call for China to abide by international law and de-escalate tensions, acknowledging China’s history of non-compliance with such requests.
Reuters contributed to this report.
