Philippines Says More Than 135 Chinese Boats 'Swarming' Reef Off Its Coast

Relevance: GS2 - India and its neighborhood- relations, Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora.

(Source: The Hindu, 12/04/2023)

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Why in the news?

The Philippines has recently asserted that over 135 Chinese vessels were detected near the Julian Felipe Reef, situated off the coast of the Philippines. Tensions persist between China and the Philippines over territorial disputes concerning reefs and islands in the South China Sea.

What has the Philippines said about the Chinese presence near its coasts?

• The Phillippines Coast Guard has observed around 135 Chinese vessels scattered around the Julian Felipe Reef which is around 320 km from the Phillippines (Palawan island).
• The Coast Guard stated that it had deployed two patrol boats to the area in response to the “illegal” presence of many Chinese Maritime Militia (CMM) vessels.
• The Chinese vessels did not respond to the radio challenges issued by the Coast Guard.

Have similar incidents occurred previously in the area?

• A similar incident was reported in 2021 in which the presence of more than 200 Chinese vessels near the reef led to a diplomatic clash between China and the Phillippines.
• The Philippines had claimed that the entry of CCM vessels into the country’s exclusive economic zone was illegal.
• However, China claimed that the vessels were fishing boats that were taking shelter from bad weather, and were therefore not violating any rules.

What is the basis of the disputes over the South China Sea?

• China has laid claims to most of the South China Sea including waters and islands close to the territories of its neighbors despite a verdict by an international tribunal that ruled against China.
  • In order to defend its claims, China has deployed vessels to patrol these waters, installed military infrastructure, and built artificial islands in the region.
• Other countries in the region such as the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam have also claimed various islands and reefs in the South China Sea.
  • As many as 70 disputed reefs and islets in the region are under contention, with the contesting countries building outposts on these disputed features.
• Petrol reserves: The South China Sea was a major point of contention among the neighboring countries on account of its rich petroleum reserves.
  • According to the US Energy Information Agency, the South China Sea houses around 11 billion barrels of oil and 190 trillion cubic feet of natural gas deposits.
• Strategic importance: China has attempted to assert its control over the South China Sea which is a strategically critical maritime area.
  • It is rich in fishing grounds which forms a major source of income for millions of people across the region.
  • It is also a crucial trade route with UNCTAD estimates suggesting that around 21% of global trade passes through the region.

South China Sea

• It is an arm of the western Pacific Ocean bordering the Southeast Asian mainland.
• It is connected to the East China Sea by the Taiwan Strait and to the Philippine Sea by the Luzon Strait.
• Bordering countries: Brunei, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.
• The major island and reef formations under contention in the South China Sea are the Spratly Islands, Paracel Islands, Pratas, the Natuna Islands, and the Scarborough Shoal.
  • Beijing has used its so-called nine-dash line to assert its sovereignty over vast stretches of the South China Sea.
  • Spratly Islands: China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Philippines, and Malaysia have raised claims about various features in the islands.
  • Paracel Islands: China, Vietnam, and Taiwan have been locked in a dispute over the China-controlled islands.
  • Scarborough Shoal: It is the subject of dispute between China, the Phillippines, Malaysia, and Brunei.
  • Natuna Islands: China has claimed the waters around the islands which are within Indonesia’s exclusive economic zone.

Significance for India

• The South China Sea is an important trade route for India.
• Around 55% of India’s trade with the Indo-Pacific region is through the waters of the South China Sea.
• India signed an agreement with Vietnam in October 2011 to expand and promote oil exploration in the South China Sea.
• India has reaffirmed its commitment to the project despite Chinese objections.
• India aims to ensure freedom of navigation and maritime security in the region due to its economic and strategic importance.
• India has participated in naval deployments, visits, and exercises in the region to build diplomatic cooperation with regional partners.
• The South China Sea has the potential to enhance regional growth and build on India’s engagement with Southeast Asia.
• India can play the role of a responsible regional stakeholder contributing towards finding a balanced approach to the disputes in the region.

What can the Phillippines do going forward?

• The Philippines has announced that it will establish a coast guard station on the largest island it holds in the South China Sea to improve the monitoring of Chinese vessels.
  • Advanced systems such as radar, satellite communication, coastal cameras, and vessel traffic management will be used to equip the Coast Guard station that could be operational by 2024.
• The Phillippines can cooperate with other countries in the region with contesting claims against China.
  • It can formally recognize the claims of these other countries as it would help cement its own claims and help it gain a more advantageous position in negotiating with China.

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FAQs

MCQs

Question: Which one of the following statements best reflects the issue of which Senkaku Islands, are sometimes mentioned in the news? (UPSC CSE 2022)

(a) It is generally believed that they are artificial islands made by a country around the South China Sea.

(b) China and Japan engage in maritime disputes over these islands in the East China Sea

(c) A permanent American military base has been set up there to help Taiwan to increase its defense capabilities.

(d) Through International Courts of Justice declaring them as no man’s land, some South-East Asian countries claim them.