Mutual accusations arose between China and the Philippines after two ships, two from Manila and one Chinese, collided in the South China Sea. The Philippine government accuses the Chinese Coast Guard ship of hitting two ships carrying supplies for military forces serving on the rusty old World War II ship “Brp Sierra Madre” anchored off Second Thomas Shoal, an atoll in the Philippine archipelago. The Spratlys, the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone disputed with Beijing.
Manila accuses Beijing of committing a “provocative, irresponsible and illegal action.” The Chinese Coast Guard accuses Philippine units of entering Chinese waters without permission despite repeated radio warnings.
“Surrounding China”: New tension in the Pacific
As Serena Console recalled on Today.it last August, Sierra Madre has not been there for 24 years by chance, but it has a specific purpose. The U.S.-built ship was voluntarily beached by the Philippines in an attempt to assert sovereignty over the small shoal, and the remains of the wreck serve as an outpost staffed by Manila’s military. And this, of course, does not please Beijing, which has been asking the Philippine government for years to remove the ship from Second Thomas Shoal, known as Ayungin in the Philippines and Ren’ai in China. This demand was made by current Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who revised the pro-China stance of his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte. Rejected by.
Washington also entered this conflict between Manila and Beijing last summer, with the United States assuming the defense of the former colony. So why do the Asian giants and countries bordering the South China Sea claim territorial sovereignty over some islands? The reasons are simple: important sea routes pass through here and the region is a huge resource and fish mine. Moreover, the presence of US marines on Philippine soil also concerns the US. On the island of Palawan, a few hundred kilometers from where the Sierra Madre ran aground, is one of four military bases that the Philippine government recently gave to the United States.
The possibility of a military incident between the two superpowers in the South China Sea is becoming increasingly concrete.
Source: Today IT
Karen Clayton is a seasoned journalist and author at The Nation Update, with a focus on world news and current events. She has a background in international relations, which gives her a deep understanding of the political, economic and social factors that shape the global landscape. She writes about a wide range of topics, including conflicts, political upheavals, and economic trends, as well as humanitarian crisis and human rights issues.
