SEOUL — Manila stormed against Beijing Sunday in the latest maritime dispute between the two capitals after China reportedly placed a seaborne barrier to prevent Philippine fishermen from entering coastal waters claimed by both countries.
Manila’s Coast Guard said it “strongly condemns” China and vowed to “uphold our maritime rights.”
The area in contention, one of the world’s busiest commercial waterways, is a flashpoint in a sovereignty dispute that has pitted China against smaller neighbors across East Asia. The U.S. and the Philippines have a mutual defense treaty that could potentially draw American forces into any clash.
The issue centers around Scarborough Shoal, known to the Philippines as Bajo de Masinloc, a series of reefs and rocks 138 miles west of the main Philippine island of Luzon and over 580 miles from China’s southern Hainan Island.
Despite losing an international arbitration case in 2016, Beijing insists that waters within the so-called “Nine-Dash Line,” encompassing some 90% of the sea, belong to China.
In the latest incident, the Philippines Sunday accused China’s Coast Guard of installing a 300-meter “floating barrier” southeast of the disputed shoal, preventing its nationals from accessing the site. Images show a line of buoys, apparently dropped by Chinese Coast Guards.
Manila’s Coast Guard and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources “strongly condemn” China’s installation, which is “depriving [fishermen] of their fishing and livelihood activities”, Coast Guard Spokesman Jay Tarriela said in a statement on social media. Chinese Coast Guard officials reportedly warned the Philippine officials not to come close.
Mr. Tarriela said the floating barrier was seen being installed by three China Coast Guard boats and a Chinese Maritime Militia’s service boat, upon the arrival of the Philippine government vessel. There were more than 50 such barriers spotted in the area on Friday, the spokesman told reporters.
China has the military muscle — and a much more powerful navy — to enforce its will. Moreover, Beijing deploys its Coast Guard, and so-called “maritime militias”: Fishing fleets, some manned by navy veterans, to back up its claims and has built a string of bases on occupied reefs protected by bunkers and served by landing strips and docks.
By contrast, Manila’s most notable offshore “base” in the area — on Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands — is a World War II-era, 100-yard-long U.S. tank transport. Run aground by Manila on a reef in the chain in 1999, the rusting hulk is protected by a squad of Philippine marines.
China keeps the hulk under observation and in August deployed Coast Guard vessels with water cannons to prevent resupply boats from reaching the troops, though it relented and allowed boats to pass through later that month.
A line in the water
The Philippines accused China’s coast guard of installing a 300-meter “floating barrier” southeast of the disputed shoal, preventing its nationals from accessing the waters.
Images show a line of buoys, apparently dropped by Chinese coast guard troops in rigid inflatable boats.
The Philippines’ Coast Guard and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources “strongly condemn” China’s installation, which is “depriving [fishermen] of their fishing and livelihood activities,” Coast Guard spokesman Jay Tarriela posted on X.
Mr. Tarriela said Chinese Coast Guard troops placed the barrier when they spotted a Philippine fisheries vessel approach. Chinese coast guard troops warned the Philippine officials by radio not to approach.
Adm. Artemio Abu, commandant of the Philippine Coast Guard, “expresses his commitment to supporting … national government agencies in their efforts to ensure the safety and security of our Filipino fishermen,” Mr. Tarriela said.
The admiral said his forces will “address these challenges, uphold our maritime rights and protect our maritime domains,” the spokesman added.
• Andrew Salmon can be reached at asalmon@washingtontimes.com.
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