The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has removed a floating barrier allegedly placed by China near the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, this according to a PCG spokesperson. In recent days, PCG had announced that China installed the floating barrier to hinder Philippine fishermen from accessing the fishing grounds near the controversial shoal, a region safeguarded by an international arbitral agreement.
Spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela stated on Twitter:
The decisive action of the PCG to remove the barrier aligns with international law and the Philippines’ sovereignty over the shoal. The PCG remains committed to upholding international law, safeguarding the welfare of Filipino fisherfolk, and protecting the rights of the Philippines in its territorial waters.
Moreover, Tarriela alleged that multiple Chinese military vessels have been destructing coral and polluting water in a region of the South China Sea that has been a long-time subject of territorial disputes. He further condemned the China Coast Guard’s (CCG) installation of floating barriers that inhibits Filipino Fishing Boats (FFBs) from entering the shoal and ensuingly impedes their fishing and livelihood activities.
These recent events are but a chapter in a long history of disputes between the Philippines and China over the Scarborough Shoal. In 2016, an International Tribunal ruled against China’s long purported nine-dash line territorial claim. Nevertheless, China spurned the ruling, persisting in its claims over the shoal. Supporting the Philippine government’s territorial claims, continued US military presence in the region heightens the enduring tension. China further fuelled the dispute by passing a law in 2021 authorizing the CCG to use force against foreign vessels in the contested areas of the South China Sea. This move drew heavy criticism from the Philippines, who later that year lodged a diplomatic protest against China for deploying military vessels in the disputed zone.
Beyond the Philippines, Brunei, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam also have competing claims against China in the South China Sea. This contentious region is an essential shipping route, rich in natural resources including oil and gas, and serves as a historic fishing ground for various countries staking sovereignty.
China has yet make an official comment on the PCG’s allegations.
The complete account of this event can be read here.