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Philippines Removes China's Barrier Blocking Fishing in South China Sea

  • 26 Sep 2023

Recently, the Philippines has taken action to remove a floating barrier installed by China in the South China Sea, which was blocking Philippine fishing boats from accessing a disputed area.

Key Points

  • Barrier Removal: The Philippines, under the instructions of President has removed a 300-meter (1,000-foot) floating barrier placed by China in the Scarborough Shoal, an area contested by both nations.
  • Fishing Rights Violation: Manila alleges that China violated its fishing rights by erecting the barrier in the Scarborough Shoal, which is considered an integral part of the Philippine national territory.
  • China's Claims: China claims over 90% of the South China Sea and took control of the Scarborough Shoal in 2012, leading to tensions in the region.
  • International Concern: Japan has urged calm in the South China Sea, emphasizing the region's importance to regional stability and expressing opposition to actions that heighten tensions.

Background on South China Sea Dispute

  • Location: The South China Sea is a body of water in Southeast Asia, situated south of China, east and south of Vietnam, west of the Philippines, and north of the island of Borneo.
  • Bordering States & Territories: The South China Sea is bordered by several countries and territories, including the People's Republic of China, the Republic of China (Taiwan), the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, Singapore, and Vietnam.
  • It connects to the East China Sea via the Taiwan Strait and to the Philippine Sea via the Luzon Strait.
  • China's territorial claims in the area have led to disputes with neighbouring countries such as the Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Brunei.
  • China has supported its claims through activities like island-building and naval patrols.
  • The United States has conducted "freedom of navigation" operations near disputed islands in the South China Sea.
  • The Scarborough Shoal was seized by China in 2012, affecting Philippine fishermen, but access was later partially restored during a period of improved relations between the two countries.
  • Strategic Importance: Due to its location, the South China Sea serves as a crucial link between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean through the Strait of Malacca.
  • Approximately one-third of global shipping passes through this region, facilitating trillions of dollars in trade and making it geopolitically significant.
  • The South China Sea is a significant fishing ground and is believed to hold vast oil and gas reserves.

Reasons for Dispute in the South China Sea

Contesting Claims Over Islands

  • China, Taiwan, and Vietnam claim the Paracel Islands.
  • China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Brunei, and the Philippines assert claims over the Spratly Islands.
  • The Scarborough Shoal is claimed by the Philippines, China, and Taiwan.

China’s Claim

  • China asserts sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, encompassing the Paracel Islands.
  • Multiple countries, including Taiwan, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, and Vietnam, have competing claims in the region, which is believed to contain valuable oil and gas resources.
  • China accuses the USA of violating its sovereignty by entering the territorial waters around Xisha (Paracel) Island without permission, thus harming regional peace.

USA’s Stand

  • The USA argues that its naval exercises in the South China Sea adhere to international law and are intended to safeguard freedom of navigation, particularly in light of conflicting territorial claims by China and other nations.
  • These actions align with the USA's ongoing efforts to counter China's assertiveness in the South China Sea, as evidenced by recent deployments of aircraft carrier groups to the region.

Other Issues

  • Undefined geographic scope of the South China Sea.
  • Disagreement over dispute settlement mechanisms.
  • Ambiguity in the legal status of the Code of Conduct (COC).

Complex History

  • Different histories of remote, mostly uninhabited archipelagos in the region contribute to the multifaceted nature of the dispute.

India's Stand

  • India maintains it is not a party to the South China Sea dispute and its presence in the region aims to secure its economic interests, particularly energy security.
  • China's expanding role in the South China Sea prompts India to reassess its approach, leading to internationalization of disputes in the Indo-Pacific to counter China's assertive tactics.
  • India leverages its Buddhist heritage to strengthen ties with Southeast Asia.
  • Indian Navy collaborates with Vietnam in the South China Sea to protect sea lanes of communication (SLOC) and counter Chinese assertiveness.
  • India plays a pivotal role in initiatives like the Quad (India, US, Japan, Australia) and advocates for the Indo-Pacific concept, which China views as containment strategies.