Philippines Takes a Stand, Dismantles Chinese Barrier in South China Sea

Tensions have been escalating between China and the Philippines since the previous year, primarily revolving around territorial disputes within the South China Sea. The dispute involves several nations, including China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Brunei.

The most recent incident heightened the conflict when a Chinese Coast Guard vessel utilized a water cannon to redirect an unarmed Philippines Navy supply boat near the Second Thomas Shoal, which China claims as its territory. The Philippines accused China of employing excessive and perilous force and promptly lodged a formal protest.

Read more breaking and trending stories from @LatestMalaysia

This ongoing conflict has stirred anxieties, prompting concerns that it could potentially trigger a broader conflict between the United States and China, given the mutual defense treaty between the U.S. and the Philippines. China has persistently pursued direct confrontation, while the Philippines has responded with robust measures to challenge China's territorial assertions.

Invisible barriers?

Recent news articles reported that the Philippines has taken action to remove a "floating barrier" installed by China within a contentious area of the South China Sea. Philippine vessels discovered this barrier during a routine maritime patrol, measuring approximately 300 meters.

Visit World Future for more foreign news and regional Asean stories

Both the Philippine coast guard and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources strongly condemned China's coast guard for installing the floating barrier in the Southeast portion of Bajo de Masinloc, hindering Filipino fishing boats from accessing the shoal and thereby depriving them of their fishing and livelihood activities.

In response to this provocative action, the Philippines conducted a "special operation" in compliance with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s instructions. The barrier posed navigation hazards, clearly violating international law and impeding the fishing and livelihood activities of Filipino fisherfolk in Bajo de Masinloc, an integral part of the Philippine national territory.

The purpose of the floating barrier installed by China in the disputed South China Sea was to obstruct Filipino fishing boats from entering Scarborough Shoal, also known as Bajo de Masinloc. The barrier, comprising a 300-meter long string of buoys, was intended to block Filipino fishermen's entry into the shoal, effectively denying them their essential fishing activities and means of livelihood.

South China Sea: Blatant Violations?

This act - according to the Philippines - constituted a blatant violation of international law, posing navigational risks and significantly disrupting the fishing and livelihood activities of Filipino fisherfolk in Bajo de Masinloc, which is an inseparable part of the Philippine national territory.

The Philippine coast guard and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources vehemently denounced China's coast guard for the installation of this barrier in the Southeast portion of Bajo de Masinloc.

Scarborough Shoal stands as a contentious territory within the South China Sea, claimed by both the Philippines and China. The conflict regarding this shoal emerged in 2012 when the Philippine Navy sought to apprehend eight mainland Chinese fishing vessels near the shoal. The Philippines maintains that the shoal is an integral part of its national territory and that China's blockade of the area constitutes a breach of international law.

Johan Chairil is a former journalist who worked for a daily paper in Kuala Lumpur