China Sends Third Patrol Vessel to South China Sea, Escalating Maritime Dispute with Philippines
The now 10-day maritime boundary controversy in the South China Sea between China and the Philippines has again been escalated, as China has sent a third patrol vessel to a disputed area that both countries claim.
The Scarborough Shoal standoff began almost two weeks ago when the Philippines complained of Chinese fishermen poaching in their territory. The country is now watching to see how far China will go to increase its stance on its territorial claims for the entire sea. The South China Sea is home to countless other competing claims, involving Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan.
The latest Chinese patrol ship was sent out after the Philippines refused to withdraw its coast guard ship from Scarborough Shoal.
The Philippine Foreign Affairs office sees China's move as an intensification of the territory battle, which was initially ignited when two Chinese maritime surveillance ships prevented a Philippine warship from arresting several Chinese fishermen. The fishermen eventually escaped the area, angering Philippine officials. The Philippines then replaced the warship with a smaller coast guard vessel that was deadlocked with the two Chinese ships, with each side demanding the other pull out first.
The Philippine government reportedly has plans to ask Chinese representatives why they violated an earlier agreement not to worsen the situation. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Foreign Secretary Alberto del Rosario, who is currently on a visit to the U.S., said earlier that the Philippines cannot compete with China militarily and was seeking a diplomatic solution.
The Philippines is ready to take the argument to an international court, but China seems to have rejected that idea altogether. The Chinese Foreign Ministry maintains that the reason for the third ship was because the Philippines violated China's jurisdiction and interfered with Chinese fishermen. Both countries continue to promote working together, to attempt to ease the tension.
The San Francisco Chronicle again reports that the shoal, which lies in what the Philippines considers its 230-mile exclusive economic zone, is among numerous islands, reefs and coral outcrops in the South China Sea claimed by China, the Philippines and other nations for their potential oil and gas deposits, rich fishing grounds and proximity to busy commercial sea lanes.
Recently, about 100 Filipino demonstrators called on China to withdraw from the shoal in a third day of protests outside the Chinese Consulate in Manila. There are also allegations that more Chinese fishermen are getting ready to set sail for the shoal, an act that began the entire dispute.
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