Philippines Asserts Naval Rights Amid Tensions With China Over Scarborough Shoal

The Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea has been the center of a heated dispute, as the Philippines asserts its ships have “every right” to patrol the area, a claim Beijing has contested. The Philippines’ National Security Adviser, Eduardo Ano, defended his country's right to sail through the seas of what's known locally as Bajo de Masinloc, or West Philippines Sea. "Under international law, we have the right to patrol the length and breadth of the West Philippines Sea, which necessarily includes Bajo de Masinloc,” stated Ano.

The standoff comes after China declared that a Philippine military ship had "illegally entered" the waters around the Scarborough Shoal, which was forcibly occupied by Beijing in 2012 following a months-long tensions. However, according to international maritime law, these islands, located ~220 km off the coast of the Philippines, fall within its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

Ano emphasized that the Philippine ship was on a regular routine patrol, and had not infringed upon any territorial water under Chinese control, as Bajo de Masinloc is a part of the Philippine archipelago and its EEZ.

This incident marks one of many in a series of confrontations between both nations this year, which has seen China accused of establishing dominion over nearly the entirety of the South China Sea via its nine-dash line claim. Among the various incidents, near collisions occurred between their vessels near Second Thomas Shoal, which is also part of Manila’s EEZ.

Strife over the control of Scarborough Shoal led the Philippines to bring China before the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, where the verdict leaned in favor of the Philippines. The court held that the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), of which China is a signatory, remains prerogative above any historic rights or sovereignty claims exceeding its limits."

Despite the ruling, Beijing has notably refused to accept the court's decision and instead has significantly amplified its claims to the waters by constructing artificial islands, expanding military outposts, and deploying its coastguard, maritime militia, and fishing fleet.