China Air Forces Exchange Accusations on Scarborough Shoal”>Philippine President
Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has called for a reduction in tensions in the South China Sea and condemned China for harassment and intimidation during a summit with Southeast Asian leaders and Chinese Premier Li Qiang. The regional summit in Laos comes after a series of confrontations between Beijing and Manila in the South China Sea. In August, there were three confrontations near the disputed Sabina Shoal, which is within the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines according to international law.Marcos accused China’s coast guard of resorting to aggressive tactics, including blasting horns, firing water cannons, and ramming Philippine maritime boats. There were also incidents involving Chinese navy ships targeting civilian Filipinos’ boats and planes.
During the meeting at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, Marcos stated that it is regrettable that tensions in the South China Sea remain unchanged. He emphasized that parties must be open to managing differences seriously and reducing tensions.
The Philippine president criticized China’s aggression as a disregard for international law and standards. He highlighted that such behavior does not go unnoticed by their respective publics or the international community.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Laos to attend the summit as well. Blinken is expected to discuss upholding international law in the South China Sea along with other topics during meetings with regional leaders.
The South China Sea holds significant geopolitical importance due to its natural resources and role in global trade. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) claims sovereignty over nearly all of it, including reefs and islands within ASEAN members’ exclusive economic zones.
In 2016, an international tribunal rejected CCP’s expansive sovereign claims but was refused by them instead enacting their own maritime rules granting power to detain foreigners who enter claimed waters for up to 60 days.
As tensions escalate, countries like Vietnam have aligned more closely with each other despite conflicting claims in the region. The Philippines and Vietnam have agreed to strengthen defense cooperation despite their disputes over territory.
The escalating tensions have raised concerns about larger conflicts erupting in this strategic waterway. The United States regularly conducts patrols there with military ships and planes as part of its commitment to uphold freedom of navigation.