The Philippines is sending a new coast guard ship to tighten its grip on a disputed reef in the South China Sea, Chinese observers said, predicting a “strong response” from Beijing.
According to the Beijing-based South China Sea Probing Initiative (SCSPI), the BRP Melchora Aquino is currently en route to the Sabina Shoal and is expected to arrive there on Friday.
The uninhabited reef in the Spratly Islands has been the scene of a standoff between the two sides since April, when one of the Philippine Coast Guard’s most advanced vessels, the BRP Teresa Magbanua, arrived on the scene.
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Manila said the ship was sent there after reports that China was carrying out land reclamation work.
Beijing rejected the accusation, saying the Philippines was trying to provide building materials to establish a permanent outpost there, but this was denied.
According to the SCSPI, it is likely that the Melchora Aquino will switch places with the Teresa Magbanua to maintain Philippine control over the reef.
“(The latest deployment) will only reinforce China’s suspicion that the Philippines wants to permanently occupy Sabina Shoal,” said Hu Bo, director of SCSPI. “So China is likely to take decisive action.”
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Hu added: “China did not know what the intention of the ship (Teresa Magbanua) was when it entered the area last time… this time they will not simply let go of the BRP Melchora Aquino.”
The two Kunigami-class ships were built in Japan and are among the most advanced and expensive vessels in the Philippine Coast Guard.
China has sent its own ships to the reef, including the world’s largest coast guard ship, the 12,000-ton CCG-5901, to monitor the Philippine vessel. The ship has reportedly conducted flag-raising ceremonies and land and water surveys.
Sabina Shoal, known as Xianbin Reef in China and Escoda Shoal in the Philippines, falls within the Philippines’ 200-nautical-mile (370 km) exclusive economic zone, but is also claimed by China.
The Second Thomas Shoal, the main point of contention between the two sides in recent months, also falls within the area and Beijing fears a repeat of the situation at Sabina Shoal.
The Philippines grounded a World War II landing craft at Second Thomas Shoal in 1999 and has maintained a military presence there ever since.
Attempts to supply troops stationed there have led to a series of clashes between the two sides in recent months, including ship collisions
The most serious incident occurred in June, when the Chinese side intercepted a Philippine navy ship, injuring eight Filipino sailors, one of whom lost his thumb.
This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP)the most authoritative voice covering China and Asia for over a century. For more SCMP stories, explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP’s Facebook And Twitter pages. Copyright © 2024 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
Copyright (c) 2024. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
