Philippines accuses China of building new artificial island fortresses in South China Sea

Damning new evidence has emerged showing China’s aggressive territorial expansion in the South China Sea.

Manila has released images it says is likely the first step towards a tidal shoal turning into an artificial island. Source: Philippines Coast Guard

China’s aggressive territorial expansion appears to have restarted, with the Philippines accusing it of beginning work on two more artificial island fortresses.

And the office of Philippines President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. says it has asked Japan to provide a Coast Guard vessel “to flex more muscles” at Sabina Shoal – 120km off the home island of Palawan.

Crushed coral dumps have been observed at Sabina Shoal – a Philippines cluster of islands, banks and reefs that have been arbitrarily claimed by China. Source: Philippines Coast Guard

The Shoal (also called Escoda Shoal) is well within the Philippines 200 nautical mile (370km) Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). It’s part of the Spratly Island group, a large cluster of reefs and sandbanks at the heart of the South China Sea.

The statement says Manila had already “stopped China’s plans to build an artificial island” there.

“The mere fact that the Philippine Coast Guard has prevented the Chinese government from continuing their island reclamation in Sabina Shoal means we are not helpless. The state has the sovereign rights over these waters,” Coast Guard chief Commodore Jay Tarriela told local media Saturday.

Manila says this is likely the first step towards turning the tidal shoal into an artificial island. Source: Philippines Coast Guard

Tarriela said 34 vessels of China’s militia fleet, guarded by a People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) warship and four China Coast Guard cutters, were occupying the circle of sandbanks and reefs.

The militia had halted coral crushing and dumping work for 26 days. They were under direct observation by the Philippines cutter BRP Teresa Magbanua, but they had continued illegally surveying the site.

“China’s deployment of Chinese Maritime Militia, Chinese coast guard, PLA Navy and Chinese research vessels close to the coastline of Palawan is concerning. Not only does this pose a threat to our sovereignty, but it also causes significant damage to our marine environment,” Tarriela added.

“The mere fact that (these) are trying to stop the Philippine Coast Guard from monitoring their activities means they must be hiding something.”

The President’s office says it has formally requested support from Japan, with one of its 97m-long Coast Guard cutters expected to arrive at Sabina Shoal in the coming days.

And National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano has called for the expulsion of Chinese diplomats for orchestrating “repeated acts of engaging and dissemination of disinformation, misinformation and malinformation,” with the objective of sowing discord, division and disunity”.

Lines in the sand

“This is an attempt by China to deliberately occupy a shoal that is administratively, geographically and legally owned by the province of Palawan,” Coast Guard chief Tarriela said of the apparent island creation efforts.

“That’s a big thing for them because it’s part of the psychological warfare – that they get that piece of the Philippines.”

Beijing’s actions appear to follow the pattern established during the occupation and construction of the nearby Mischief Reef, Fiery Cross Reef, Subi Reef, Cuarteron Reef and Johnson South Reef over the past decade.

Today is the 25th day of the deployment of BRP Teresa Magbanua in Escoda/Sabina Shoal. The decisive action to deploy and extend the presence of the PCG vessel was made by the PCG Commandant, Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan, in response to the presence of the Chinese Maritime Militia… https://t.co/v2OZR9DNWFpic.twitter.com/jDQkSCUxck

— Jay Tarriela (@jaytaryela) May 10, 2024

First, Chinese militia ships and boats – posing as a fishing fleet – begin crushing local corals and piling them into a mound that sits permanently above sea level. A small force of troops is then established on a tower before large-scale sand dredging and coral crushing commence.

Tarriela says similar activities were observed at another shoal on the western side of the Spratly Islands, Sandy Cay, in March.

“They are just getting started,” he explained. “So if the dumping of corals in Sandy Cay has allowed China to expand the land area – surface area – as an artificial island, then, if we don’t monitor and guard against this, perhaps in the coming months, we could be surprised that there would be large man-made islands in Sabina Shoal,” he said.

Sabina Shoal is close to Reed Bank (which the Philippines calls Recto Bank) – a site believed to contain oil and gas deposits.

2000-year-old claim

“If there is trouble, they will be very close to us”, President of the Manila-based think-tank International Development and Security Cooperation, Chester Cabalza, told local media.

“There were attempts in the past years where Beijing wanted to possess the shoal considering its strategic value to their claims in the South China Sea.”

China’s Philippines Embassy issued a statement at the weekend asserting Beijing’s “indisputable sovereignty over the South China Sea Islands and the adjacent waters”.

🇵🇭SABINA SHOAL🇵🇭
Sentinel 2📷 (9 May 2024) indicate the following at Sabina Shoal⬇️
3x 'rafted' 🇨🇳maritime militia groups
5x additional 🇨🇳maritime militia vessels
2x 🇨🇳Coast Guard (CCG 3303 | CCG 4202 (likely))
1x 🇵🇭 Coast Guard (BRP Magbanua)

🇨🇳greyzone tactics for all to see https://t.co/wIZmvkABlapic.twitter.com/1Jp0OLDgYC

— MT Anderson (@MT_Anderson) May 9, 2024

And China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian attempted to justify his nation’s aggressive stance, stating: “Chinese activities in the South China Sea date back over 2000 years ago. China was the first country to discover, name, explore, and exploit the resources of the South China Sea Islands and the first to continuously exercise sovereign powers over them.”

Both Manila and Beijing are signatories to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). This established a definition for territorial waters after World War II as a basis for arbitrating conflicting claims.

China's recent actions demonstrate a sense of anxiety and a lack of evidence. Their desperation has led them to compromise their integrity. The Philippines, in a solemn manner, demands that China adhere to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. It is imperative for China… https://t.co/oJ0Lleeojj

— Jay Tarriela (@jaytaryela) May 11, 2024

A 2016 International Court of Arbitration ruling at The Hague threw out China’s assertion of historic territorial ownership over the Philippines portion of the Spratly Islands as “unfounded”.

Beijing retorted that the international court had no jurisdiction over Chinese territory.

But Manila is digging in its heels and building a broad coalition of supporters including Australia, Japan and the United States.

“We’re the only ones who can build an artificial island in our exclusive economic zone, so that will be in violation of UNCLOS and the arbitral tribunal,” former Supreme Court judge Antonio Carpio told Philippines media.

Showdown brewing

Open source intelligence analysts (OSINT) have identified additional Chinese Coast Guard cutters and maritime militia vessels likely en route to Scarborough Shoal ahead of a publicised Philippine ‘convoy” to bring gifts and supplies to troops stationed on a wrecked World War II warship there.

The rusting former tank-landing ship BRP Sierra Madre was beached on the reef in 1999 to reinforce Philippine claims to its territorial waters after China occupied Mischief Reef (Panganiban Reef) with a military outpost in 1995.

🚨/🇨🇳#China is sending a huge force to blockade Scarborough Shoal ahead of the Atin Ito civilian convoy setting sail from the 🇵🇭#Philippines Tuesday. By this time tomorrow at least 4 coast guard & 26 large maritime militia ships on blockade (not counting "dark" vessels) [🧵1/x] https://t.co/e6N8AhuycRpic.twitter.com/wYJjqE8VHU

— Ray Powell (@GordianKnotRay) May 12, 2024

The outpost has become a monthly flashpoint with Chinese Coast Guard and fishing militia vessels attempting to block efforts to deliver supplies and relief personnel.

Tensions have been steadily escalating, with China beginning to direct high-pressure water hoses on the civilian ships while “nudging” them away from the reef’s narrow entrance.

Beijing has long claimed the Philippines had “agreed” to remove the outpost. Manila has always denied this.

Last week, this diplomatic war of words took a new twist with Beijing leaking a recent tape recording of a Filipino admiral and a Chinese diplomat.

It says the admiral agreed to cease “trespassing” on Chinese territory and agreed to notify Beijing in advance of BRP Sierra Madre resupply efforts.

Manila says the admiral, who has since gone on leave, had no power to make such an agreement.

“Those individuals in the Chinese Embassy … and those responsible for these malign influence and interference operations must be removed from the country immediately,” Ano said.

“The Philippines has insisted on denying these objective facts and seeks to mislead the international community,” spokesman Lin retorted.