Maritime Standoff Between China & Philippines in South China Sea

As the territorial dispute in the South China Sea (SCS) continues, China is now accusing a Philippine warship of illegally entering its waters. The vessel has been ordered to leave the area immediately.

A statement released by the Chinese embassy reasserts the country’s self-determining right to the SCS, even though the disputed area is distinctly closer to The Philippines.

The Philippine government claim, in their defense, that two Chinese surveillance ships were disrupting efforts by their largest warship to arrest Chinese fishermen on eight different boats practicing illegal fishing in Philippine waters. The standoff was occurring at Scarborough Shoal, 124 nautical miles from the western coast of the country's main island of Luzon.

Philippine flag planted on Scarborough Shoal

China insists that they have sovereign rights to the entire sea, regardless of the waters close to other countries. The Philippines are fighting for rights to the areas of the SCS within its 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone; a fight they believe is also backed by international law procedures.

China calls the shoal in question Huangyan Island, and their embassy maintained that the area belonged solely to China. The Chinese Embassy reiterated that Huangyan Island is an integral part of the Chinese territory and the waters around it is the traditional fishing area for the Chinese fishermen.