📷 Image Credits: The Hindu
A recent incident near the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea has escalated tensions between China and the Philippines. The collision between a Chinese vessel and a Philippine supply ship occurred near the Second Thomas Shoal, a submerged reef in the Spratly Islands. According to China’s coast guard, the Philippine supply ship ignored repeated warnings and dangerously approached the Chinese vessel, leading to the collision. China has placed the blame entirely on the Philippines for the incident.
The Philippines, on the other hand, maintains that the shoal falls within its internationally recognized exclusive economic zone. The country often references a 2016 international arbitration ruling that invalidated China’s expansive claims in the South China Sea based on historical grounds. This ongoing dispute over the territorial waters near the shoal has sparked fears of a potential military confrontation between China and the United States, a longtime ally of the Philippines.
Apart from China and the Philippines, other nations such as Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan are also involved in the territorial disputes in the South China Sea. These disputes are considered a significant point of contention in the Asia-Pacific region and have become a delicate fault line in the longstanding rivalry between the U.S. and China in the area. The recent collision between the Chinese and Philippine vessels adds fuel to the already tense situation in the region, raising concerns about further escalations and potential conflicts.
