Last week, China anchored one of its two “Monster Ships” — the largest Coast Guard ships in the world — within the exclusive economic zone of Manila, the capital of the Philippines. The vessels are 165 meters long and displace 12,000 tons of water, making them three times the size of the U.S. Coast Guard’s main patrol ships.
Using Canada’s Dark Vessel Detection technology, the Philippines tracked the movements of CCG-5901, the “Monster Ship,” after it left Hainan, China on July 1. The ship entered the Philippine exclusive economic zone the next day and anchored itself about 800 yards from a Philippine Coast Goard boat. The “Monster Ship” has also deployed a smaller boat in the exclusive economic zone.
An exclusive economic zone is an area of 200 nautical miles, equivalent to 230 miles, beyond a nation’s territorial sea that they have jurisdiction over. Exclusive economic zones were established in 1982 through the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
The Chinese vessel docked about 80 miles off the Philippine island of Palawan near the Sabrina Shoal. The Shoal is part of the Spratly Islands, which have long been quarreled over by the two countries.
Jay Tarriela, the spokesperson for the Philippine Coast Guard, called China’s actions an “intimidation” at a news forum on Saturday, according to Reuters. He also vowed, “We’re not going to pull out and we’re not going to be intimidated.”
The Philippines’ exclusive economic zone is one of the most highly contested in the world.
China has laid claim to 90 percent of the South China Sea. This claim encroaches upon the exclusive economic zone of five other countries, including the Philippines’. Brunei, Vietnam, and Malaysia have also attempted to claim parts of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone for themselves.
In 2016, The Hague Tribunal ruled that China does not have a claim to the majority of the South China Sea. China has largely ignored the ruling and is in the midst of multiple territory disputes.
On Monday, July 8, Japan and the Philippines signed a defense pact called the Reciprocal Access Agreement. The agreement allows Japan to deploy forces in the Philippines for joint drills and Filipino forces to enter Japan for joint combat training. The legislatures of both countries still must approve the pact.
China reprimanded Japan’s entrance into the agreement, asking Japan to “seriously reflect on its history of aggression.” Japan invaded and occupied the Philippines during World War II.
The two countries have since opened relations over mutual concerns about China’s growing military power and influence in Asia. Japan is also in a territorial dispute with China over the Senkaku Islands between Taiwan and the Japanese island Okinawa.
The Philippines turned down U.S. offers for assistance in the South China Sea. Romeo Brawner, Filipino Armed Forces chief general, told Reuters the Philippines will “try to exhaust all possible options that we have before we ask for help.” (READ MORE: US Returns to the Philippines to Fend Off China)
This is not the first time China has made an inflammatory move against the Philippines.
Though the Philippines have thus far rejected U.S. aid offers, should tensions continue to escalate, the U.S. may still become involved in the conflict. In 1951, the two countries signed the U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty, which stipulates that if there is an attack against one nation, the other must come to its aid. Japan has a similar treaty with the U.S., the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty.
Since the U.S. has mutual defense treaties with the Philippines and Japan, who also have a defense pact (though not a mutual defense treaty), the U.S. could quickly become embroiled in a conflict in the South China Sea.
As a member of NATO, U.S. involvement could result in NATO involvement.
Japan has also been invited to the NATO summit in Washington, D.C., which is occurring this week, along with three other countries from the region, showing NATO’s growing interest in the region. (READ MORE: Time for an Asian NATO?)
Should China continue to pursue its claims on the South China Sea, the whole world could quickly become involved.
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