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South China Sea
ChinaDiplomacy

Will more assertive Philippine approach to South China Sea pay off in long run?

  • Manila is trying to give its maritime confrontations with China maximum publicity in the hope of gaining more international support
  • Some observers question whether this approach will prompt a change in Chinese behaviour

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen
Jack Lau
Philippine coastguards have escorted boats to the South China Sea to resupply its military base on the disputed Second Thomas Shoal seven times in the past four months.
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Each time, they have complained about China’s coastguards and maritime militia obstructing their journey to the disputed reef in the South China Sea or making dangerously close passes.

A Chinese Coast Guard ship uses a water cannon against a Filipino resupply vessel heading towards the disputed Second Thomas Shoal, in the South China Sea on Sunday. Photo: Reuters
A Chinese Coast Guard ship uses a water cannon against a Filipino resupply vessel heading towards the disputed Second Thomas Shoal, in the South China Sea on Sunday. Photo: Reuters
On Sunday, a steel-hulled Chinese coastguard ship used its water cannon against a much smaller Philippine supply boat and eventually collided with it in the most serious confrontation between the two sides in a year.

The Philippines said afterwards that the incident had damaged the boat’s engines, “disabling the vessel and seriously endangering the lives of its crew”.

It followed a similar collision in late October, again involving a Chinese coastguard ship and supply vessel.

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Manila has chosen to publicise these confrontations ever since an incident in February, when Chinese coastguards shone a military-grade laser beam at Philippine boats near the Second Thomas Shoal and temporarily blinded a crew member. It calculates that publicity will help increase international support for its position.

“I believe that our effort in the transparency initiative has been very successful in rallying support from the international community to condemn the illegal actions of China and to make the Filipino people aware of what’s happening,” Commodore Jay Tarriela, a spokesman for the coastguard, said last month after another confrontation where Chinese forces used water cannons against Philippine ships.

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