Philippines Fires Back at Chinese Coast Guard
In a sharp diplomatic move, the Philippines slammed three Chinese Coast Guard vessels for blocking and hurling water cannons at two Manila supply boats heading toward the Second Thomas Shoal. The incident, which occurred on Nov. 16, left the Manila crew without casualties but forced them to abort their mission.
Key Statements from Manila
- Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin declared the Chinese actions “illegal.” He reminded China that any public vessel operating in Philippine waters is protected by the Philippines‑United States Mutual Defence Treaty.
- Locsin said he had expressed “our outrage, condemnation and protest” to the Chinese Ambassador in the strongest possible terms.
- He warned Beijing that its lack of self‑restraint could jeopardize the special relationship between the two nations.
- China is “not entitled to law‑enforcement rights” in or around Philippine‑claimed areas, said Locsin, urging the Chinese forces to back off and respect Philippine sovereignty.
Why the Shoal Is Fight‑Or-Flight Material
The Second Thomas Shoal sits 195 km southwest of Palawan and falls inside the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. Manila has controlled the shoal since 1999, after deliberately grounding a navy ship on the reef to establish a presence.
China claims the entire South China Sea, including the shoal, as part of its territory. However, a 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague sided with the Philippines, dismissing China’s sweeping claims.
Regional Reactions
While China has made bold assertions of sovereignty over vast swaths of the South China Sea, other Southeast Asian countries—Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam—have also lodged competing claims over some or all of the islands.
As of now, the Chinese embassy in Manila has yet to respond publicly to the tribunal’s statement.
