Philippines has lodged a diplomatic protest against China following a December 4 maritime incident near the contested Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, the foreign ministry announced on Thursday.
This protest is part of nearly 200 filed under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who has frequently condemned Beijing’s assertive actions in the disputed waters.
Philippine officials reported that Chinese coastguard vessels fired water cannons and sideswiped a Manila fisheries bureau boat delivering supplies to Filipino fishermen at Scarborough Shoal on Wednesday. Additionally, Philippine coastguard vessels faced “blocking, shadowing, and dangerous maneuvers” from a Chinese navy ship, which a senior Filipino security official described as deeply concerning.
“We view this as a significant escalation by the People’s Republic of China,” said Jonathan Malaya, National Security Council spokesperson, in an interview with ANC News Channel.
While the Philippines conducts its resupply missions as civilian operations, Malaya emphasized the country’s right to deploy naval assets if necessary.
In response, China’s Coast Guard defended its actions, claiming it took “necessary control measures” and labeled them “professional, standardized, legitimate, and lawful.” Beijing placed the blame on the Philippines, asserting that responsibility for the incident “lies entirely with the Philippine side.”
The Scarborough Shoal, a key fishing area, remains a flashpoint in the South China Sea dispute. While China claims almost the entire sea, including the shoal, the Philippines and other neighboring nations contest these claims. A 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague found Beijing’s expansive claims lacked legal basis. However, China has refused to recognize the ruling.
The tribunal also determined that China’s blockade of Scarborough Shoal violated international law, noting that the area has long been a traditional fishing ground for multiple nationalities.
Tensions in the region persist as both nations assert their claims over the resource-rich waters.
