Symbolic imageWashington has sharpened its line: the State Department now says China's declared nature reserve at Scarborough Shoal is a pretext to shut Filipino fishermen out, and rejects its enforcement. Beijing has threatened countermeasures, Manila is not backing down.
Scarborough Shoal, which China calls Huangyan Dao, is a reef in the South China Sea where Chinese and Philippine claims collide. China treats the surrounding waters as its territorial sea and sends coast guard ships on what Beijing describes as law-enforcement patrols. Philippine vessels and aircraft operate in the same area, and each encounter is presented differently by the two governments. Chinese state outlet Global Times reports that the navy backs those patrols with warships and fighter jets, while the defence ministry casts Philippine activity as infringement and provocation. After drone footage of such encounters circulated, China's foreign ministry warned others against dangerous approaches to its naval vessels.
The US State Department has accused China of using a declared 'national nature reserve' at Scarborough Shoal to keep Filipino fishermen from their traditional fishing ground. It said on Saturday it rejects Beijing's attempts to enforce it.
China's defence ministry has promised firm countermeasures against what it calls Philippine provocations at Huangyan Dao, the Chinese name for Scarborough Shoal, the Global Times reported on Friday. The ministry did not specify what measures it intends to take.
The China Coast Guard conducted comprehensive exercises in the waters of Huangyan Dao, including simulated deployment of water cannon, Global Times reported, adding that the Philippine presidential palace has backed calls for 'pro-China' officials to resign. Analysts told the South China Morning Post that Manila's push for seabed rights could complicate its work as this year's Asean chair on a South China Sea code of conduct.
China's army and coast guard held exercises around Huangyan Dao (Scarborough Shoal) and Beijing issued new reserve rules to tighten its control over the disputed reef. On Sunday the Chinese military's newspaper warned that Beijing has a 'rich and powerful' toolkit ready for a 'head-on blow' against those who 'make waves' in the South China Sea, after Philippine efforts to map its claim.
The Chinese military and coast guard held joint naval and air drills on Saturday near Scarborough Shoal, which Beijing calls Huangyan Dao, days after China criticised a Philippine territorial move, the South China Morning Post reported. Global Times said the exercises included interdiction of forced entry and forced towing and involved an H-6K bomber carrying YJ-12 supersonic anti-ship missiles, while The Hindu reported that China issued new rules asserting control over the disputed shoal.
China said it firmly rejects and never accepts the Philippines' delimitation of so-called territorial sea baselines around Huangyan Dao, the feature known as Scarborough Shoal, and the People's Liberation Army held joint maritime and air drills around it in response to what state media called moves that undermine peace and stability. The South China Morning Post reported that Chinese and Philippine crews fought with oars and batons beside the BRP Sierra Madre on 20 July, and argued that Beijing and Manila need their arrangements in writing.
The Chinese coast guard carried out what it called law-enforcement patrols in the territorial sea around Huangyan Dao, known as Scarborough Shoal, while the military deployed a Type 054B frigate and JL-10 jets to warn away Philippine aircraft and vessels, Global Times reported on Thursday. China's defence ministry said the armed forces would resolutely counter any infringement or provocation, and the foreign ministry urged others to avoid dangerous approaches to Chinese naval vessels after drone footage circulated.