Philippines Removes Chinese Barrier in Contested South China Sea Area

The Philippines has taken the bold step of removing a floating barrier installed by China to block Philippine fishing boats from entering a contested area in the South China Sea.

The Philippines coast guard revealed that it had received instructions from President Ferdinand Marcos Junior to remove the 300-meter (1,000-foot) barrier in the Scarborough Shoal.

Manila argued that China violated its fishing rights with the barrier, which it deemed a violation of international law and a hindrance to Filipino fishermen’s livelihoods.

China has claimed over 90% of the South China Sea and took control of the Scarborough Shoal in 2012. Beijing defended its coast guard’s actions, characterizing them as “necessary measures.” The Philippines coast guard noted that the shoal is an integral part of the Philippine national territory.

Commodore Jay Tarriela of the coast guard explained that the barrier was discovered during a patrol, with three Chinese coast guard boats and a Chinese maritime militia service boat installing it in response to the arrival of a Philippine vessel.

The Chinese boats issued radio challenges and accusations of violating international and Chinese laws before departing upon realizing the presence of media personnel on board the Philippine vessel.

Japan has called for calm and emphasized the importance of regional stability in the South China Sea. China’s expansive territorial claims, which include land plots and adjacent waters, have created tensions not only with the Philippines but also with Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Brunei. The region is rich in fishing resources and is believed to have significant oil and gas reserves.

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China’s actions in the South China Sea, including island-building and naval patrols, have raised concerns among neighboring countries and the United States, which conducts “freedom of navigation” operations near disputed islands. Relations between the Philippines and China have experienced ups and downs, with recent tensions exacerbated by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s policies, including restoring security ties with the US and granting American troops wider access to Philippine military bases.

As a result, the South China Sea remains a highly contested and volatile region with significant geopolitical implications.