China’s state media on Monday accused the Philippines of repeatedly infringing on the Asian superpower’s territory in the South China Sea, spreading false information, and colluding with extraterritorial forces.
Comments from China
In a commentary on Monday, China’s Communist Party mouthpiece, the People’s Daily, accused the Philippines of relying on US support to continually provoke China with such “extremely dangerous” behaviour that seriously harms regional peace and stability.
The Philippines Foreign Ministry and a national task force handling issues related to the South China Sea did not immediately respond to requests on Christmas Day for comments on the report.
Tensions between the two Asian countries have heightened in recent months as both sides continue to face off in the disputed waters, including accusations that China rammed a ship carrying the Philippine armed forces chief of staff earlier this month.
In an unusually direct warning, Chinese FM Wang Yi said last week that any miscalculation in the dispute with the Philippines would provoke a “resolute” response from China. He also called for dialogue to address “serious difficulties.”
Philippine president's China strategy is wrong
— Zhang Heqing (@zhang_heqing) December 25, 2023
Since Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s visit to China in January, the Philippines has had multiple maritime conflicts with China in the South China Sea. Marcos Jr. said that he wants a "paradigm shift" on the Philippines'… pic.twitter.com/r4oJOEWhr0
Comments from the Philippines
Earlier this month, Filipino President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. slammed China’s “dangerous actions,” calling them an “outright and blatant violation of international law.”
He also reiterated that the Scarborough Shoal, as well as the Second Thomas Shoal, which China claims to be part of its own territory, are within the Philippines’ maritime borders. “No one but the Philippines has a legitimate right or legal basis to operate anywhere in the West Philippine Sea,” he stressed.
Strategic Importance
The Scarborough Shoal has been a focal point in territorial disputes between the two countries because of its strategic importance in both military and economic terms, as it is positioned along key maritime routes.
The South China Sea is a major maritime route, and therefore, control over the Scarborough Shoal allows influence over sea lanes, allowing for strategic positioning and monitoring of naval traffic.