Recent battles between the Philippines and China in the South China Sea have fueled fears of a maritime escalation.
The Philippines claims that two Chinese coastguard ships “harassed” Filipino fishing vessels within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the disputed South China Sea ahead of joint military maneuvers with its allies.
The coastguard vessels “went as far as pretending to man their water cannon and threatening the Filipino fishermen” on the Iroquois reef on April 4, according to Jay Tarriela, a spokeswoman for the Philippine Coast Guard, who wrote on X on Saturday.
“This aggressive action stems from China’s greed and unfounded claim that these waters belong to them based on their imaginary dashed line,” she said in a statement.
China, which claims control over nearly all of the South China Sea, had no immediate reply.
“It is important to note that Rozul Reef falls within the Philippines’ EEZ because it is located approximately 128 nautical miles from Palawan,” Tarriela said, referring to the reef by its Filipino name. The Philippines also refers to the portion of the South China Sea inside its Exclusive Economic Zone as the West Philippine Sea.
In recent months, the Philippines and China have reported a number of maritime incidents, including the deployment of water cannon. The two countries have long fought over the disputed reefs in the wide and resource-rich sea passage.
Since entering office in 2022, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has fostered closer connections with the United States and other Western nations while taking a hard line against what he perceives as Chinese aggression.
He stated last month that the Philippines will take countermeasures against China following the last clash, which injured Filipino soldiers and destroyed boats.
On Sunday, the Philippines will hold combined naval and aviation drills with the United States, Japan, and Australia in the disputed territory as it strives to strengthen relations with its allies in response to China’s rising aggressiveness in the region.
The participating defense chiefs of the four nations said in a joint statement on Saturday that the practice would highlight their “collective commitment to strengthen regional and international cooperation in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.”.
Next week, US President Joe Biden will conduct the first trilateral meeting with Marcos Jr. and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Washington, DC.
The drills would include navy and air force units from all four nations, according to the announcement, but no other specifics were provided.
According to Japan’s embassy in Manila, the exercises would involve “anti-submarine warfare training.”.
China has accused the Philippines of escalating tensions in the disputed waterway.
Top US officials have repeatedly stated their “ironclad” resolve to defend the Philippines against an armed attack in the South China Sea.
“These activities with our allies Australia, Japan, and the Philippines underscore our shared commitment to ensuring that all countries are free to fly, sail, and operate wherever international law allows,” Lloyd Austin, the secretary of defense of the United States, stated.
