In a blatant act of aggression, China sent many Coast Guard and Maritime Militia ships to a disputed atoll in the South China Sea to block a protest flotilla from the Philippines
The Filipino group organized the flotilla of about 100 small fishing boats and five larger ones amid rising tensions between the two countries, with an aim to assert the Philippines’ claim to Scarborough Shoal, controlled by Beijing
However, even before the Philippine fleet could departure, China sent numerous large government vessels to the area, in an act of dominance and effort to assert control over distant maritime territories
Over the last two years, clashes between Filipino and Chinese vessels have risen in the South China Sea, with the latter using water cannons to deter the former
China on Wednesday claimed that it deployed the Coast Guard vessels over “heightened concern about proximity” of Philippines vessels, directly increasing the risk of encounters near the shoal
Threatening the Philippines, China warned that if Manila breaches its territorial sovereignty, Beijing will retaliate legally. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson emphasized that any consequences will be solely the Philippines’ responsibility.
Responding to Chinese threats, the leader of Atin Ito, the Filipino organization coordinating the sea protest, Rafaela David, affirmed the Philippine’s determination to reach the Panatag Shoal despite obstacles. The fishing boats are expected to arrive at their destination in about 20 hours.
Speaking at a news briefing Ms. David emphasized the need to normalize civilian access in the disputed region, highlighting that the presence of protest boats reflects the Filipino’s resilience against China’s size.
China had 5 Coast Guard ships and 6 maritime militia vessels near the shoal by Tuesday, while another 25 maritime militia vessels were approximately 60 miles further out. This count doesn’t include vessels without tracking devices or those turned off to avoid detection.
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