The Philippines has lodged a strong protest against China for blocking and firing water cannons at two of its supply boats in the disputed South China Sea. The incident occurred on Tuesday near the Second Thomas Shoal, which is within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone and occupied by its marines.
The Philippine foreign secretary, Teodoro Locsin Jr., said in a statement that the acts of the Chinese coast guard vessels were illegal and threatened the special relationship between the two countries. He also warned China that the Philippine boats were covered by a mutual defense treaty with the United States, which could trigger a military response if attacked.
“China has no law enforcement rights in and around these areas. They must take heed and back off,” Locsin said.
The Philippine defense secretary, Delfin Lorenzana, said the two boats were carrying food supplies for the soldiers stationed at the shoal, which is also claimed by China. He said the boats were forced to abort their mission after being harassed by three Chinese ships that blocked their path and sprayed them with water.
Lorenzana condemned the “unprovoked and unlawful” actions of China and urged it to respect the Philippines’ sovereignty and sovereign rights over its maritime territory. He also called on China to abide by the 2016 ruling of an international arbitration tribunal that invalidated its expansive claims in the South China Sea.
The Second Thomas Shoal, also known as Ayungin Shoal in the Philippines and Ren’ai Reef in China, is a submerged coral reef that hosts a rusting Philippine navy ship that serves as a makeshift outpost for a small contingent of marines. The Philippines has maintained its presence at the shoal since 1999, despite China’s attempts to dislodge it.
The shoal is part of the Spratly Islands, a group of islands, reefs, and atolls that are subject to overlapping claims by six countries: China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan. The South China Sea is a strategic waterway that hosts about a third of global shipping and is rich in fishery and energy resources.
China has been increasingly assertive in its claims in the South China Sea, building artificial islands and deploying its navy, coast guard, and militia vessels to assert its control over the disputed waters. The Philippines, under President Rodrigo Duterte, has sought to improve its ties with China despite the maritime disputes, but has also reaffirmed its alliance with the US as a counterbalance.
The latest incident comes amid rising tensions between China and other claimants in the South China Sea, as well as between China and the US, which conducts regular freedom of navigation operations and military exercises in the region to challenge China’s claims and support its allies and partners.