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New ‘firestorm’ erupts between China and Philippines in South China Sea

A new “firestorm” has erupted between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea, sending shockwaves across the world.

Jamie SeidelJamie Seidel
@JamieSeidel
5 min read
September 5, 2024 - 6:05PM
Beijing and Manila clash over disputed shoal

The South China Sea is at boiling point, with the United States threatening to intervene after an armed Chinese ship rammed and damaged a Philippine Coast Guard cutter.

On Saturday, the Coast Guard vessels clashed within the remote tidal Sabina Shoal lagoon, 138km from the Philippines and 1200km from China.

“The jets of water sent the media and the crew scurrying for safety,” said reporter Nestor Corrales, who was aboard at the time.

“As I ran, one of the straps on my life vest got caught on the door’s lever handle. Before I knew it, I was screaming as the water hit my body. I scrambled to untangle myself, worried for my life.”

As with other recent clashes over contested shoals and sandbanks within the Spratly Islands, both sides have blamed the other for “deliberately” causing the collision.

Unlike the other incidents, this one involved the flagship of the Philippines Coast Guard, BRP 9701 Teresa Magbanua. And the ship’s hull was punctured several times as its decks were cleared by Chinese water cannon.

“I saw cracks on some windows and the ceiling. Sparks crackled from an electrical outlet. We were still lucky, I realised, because at least the ship didn’t catch fire,” Corrales wrote.

“As I surveyed the damage, I observed dents on the port and starboard sides of this ship, and some of its railings were deformed. All our equipment, sleeping bags, and everything else the eyes could see, were drenched in water.”

The confrontation began shortly before 8am Saturday local time. It continued until midafternoon.

While the action ended as a standoff on the water, it has triggered a renewed diplomatic firestorm across the Pacific.

Washington has backed its ally’s version of events, with the US State Department condemning Beijing for “deliberately colliding three times” with the Philippines coast guard vessel.

Sabina Shoal has emerged as the latest flashpoint in the South China Sea. Picture: Google Maps
Sabina Shoal has emerged as the latest flashpoint in the South China Sea. Picture: Google Maps

Australia, Japan and the European Union have also issued statements condemning China’s aggression.

But the time for sternly-worded diplomatic notes may be about to pass.

The rhetoric on all sides is rapidly approaching vapour point.

Now, China’s threatening to forcefully board and seize the Philippines Coast Guard ship and tow it away.

On the high seas

“The PCG vessel 9701 began a new round of shows in Xianbin Jiao, which is nothing more than putting all the energy into making a scene and sadfishing, trying to make a public opinion sensation and gain sympathy by pretending to be a victim,” an anonymous editorial in the Chinese Communist Party-controlled Global Times asserts.

“Axe-wielding coast guard personnel, reckless blasting of water cannons, continuing artificial island building and increasing militarisation of outposts are recent examples of Beijing’s non-compliant and escalatory activities that harm other countries,” a US Indo-Pacific Command publication counters.

Manila was confirmed as the owner of Sabina Shoal (called Escoda by Manila and Xianbin Jiao by Beijing) in 2016 when an international tribunal ruled it was part of its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) as defined by the United Nations Conventions on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Beijing rejected the ruling and insists it falls within its expansive 10-Dash Line “historical” claim to almost the entire South China Sea. It’s been attempting to enforce this ownership in a decades-long series of small escalations – each allowing it to take more territory without crossing the threshold of open conflict.

An armed Chinese ship rammed and damaged a Philippine Coast Guard cutter over the weekend. Picture: AFP Photo/Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)
An armed Chinese ship rammed and damaged a Philippine Coast Guard cutter over the weekend. Picture: AFP Photo/Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)

The BRP Teresa Magbanua has been inside Sabina Shoal since April. It has been there since allegations were raised that China was crushing coral in preparation to turn it into another illegal island fortress.

Both sides have released footage of the weekend collision.

All show the bow of an armed Chinese Coast Guard cutter striking the stern of the Philippines vessel.

“Don’t believe your lyin’ eyes …” Stanford University academic and former US Air Force Colonel Ray Powell commented on social media.

“It takes a special kind of brazen arrogance to post the video of your own country’s ship clearly ramming another country’s ship … while claiming the exact opposite occurred.”

Singapore-based analyst Collin Koh also expressed his shock at Beijing’s account of events.

“First time I hear somebody intentionally collides with another ship … using its stern while not moving,” he wrote.

“I’m amazed how Beijing and CCG can defy Newton’s laws of physics. And please don’t question my knowledge of hard science yeah, I was firstly educated as an engineer.”

Manila’s allies are also unconvinced.

“The United States stands with its ally, the Philippines, and condemns the dangerous and escalatory actions by the People’s Republic of China against lawful Philippine maritime operations in the vicinity of Sabina Shoal,” US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement.

On Saturday, the Coast Guard vessels clashed within the remote tidal Sabina Shoal lagoon, 138km from the Philippines and 1200km from China.
On Saturday, the Coast Guard vessels clashed within the remote tidal Sabina Shoal lagoon, 138km from the Philippines and 1200km from China.

Australia’s foreign affairs department accused Beijing of “repeated and intentional ramming of Philippine vessels”. It urged China to “cease these actions, resolve disputes peacefully, and adhere to international law”.

Threats of confrontation

“This is a complete miscalculation,” a CCP-approved statement reads.

“The CCG (Chinese Coast Guard) has the right, responsibility and ability to take measures to resolutely thwart all infringing acts of provocation and nuisance.

“Possible actions include cutting off Manila’s supplies to PCG ship 9701, preventing Philippine ships from entering the lagoon, and having high-powered tugboats ready to tow away the ship at any time.”

Filipino naval analyst Aaron-Matthew Lariosa says the presence of two Chinese tugboats at Sabina Shoal during the recent clash indicates this is not an idle threat.

For its part, Beijing also accuses Washington of “disrupting the CCG’s law enforcement operations”.

It says a US Navy P-8A Poseidon patrol aircraft had intruded on its “territorial” airspace above Sabina Shoal during the weekend clash.

“Washington should also be very clear that the appearance of a non-regional country’s military aircraft in the scene of maritime friction comes with the suspicion of leading to a greater conflict or even fanning the flame,” the anonymous Global Times editorial asserts.

On Tuesday, Manila said it was monitoring more than 200 Chinese vessels active across the Philippines’ EEZ – the highest number seen so far this year.

Meanwhile, Washington once again reminded Beijing that it had a longstanding defence treaty with the Philippines.

“The United States reaffirms that Article IV of the 1951 US-Philippines Mutual Defence Treaty extends to armed attacks on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft — including those of its Coast Guard — anywhere in the South China Sea,” a US State Department statement issued at the weekend asserts.

Philippine defence analyst retired Rear Admiral Rommel Jude Ong told local media the damage to the BRP Teresa Magbanua was likely intentional.

He says it represents “mission kill” tactics aimed at disabling Manila’s few Coast Guard vessels so they cannot police its Spratly Island territories.

And Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Admiral Romeo Brawner said last week – before the weekend incident – that he is considering asking the US to escort its resupply missions.

“The attitude of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, as dictated by the Philippine laws, is for us to first rely on ourselves,” Brawner said after meeting visiting US Indo-Pacific Command chief Samuel Paparo. But he added he would “seek for other options when we are already constrained from doing it ourselves”.

Admiral Brawner expressed qualified support for the idea: “Every option between the two sovereign nations in terms of our mutual defence, escort of one vessel to the other, is an entirely reasonable option within our Mutual Defence Treaty, among this close alliance between the two of us.”

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Originally published as New ‘firestorm’ erupts between China and Philippines in South China Sea

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