In early March 2021 Chinese maritime militia has swarmed its boats closer to all the contentious islands under Philippines, and has tried to intimidate its littoral neighbours particularly Vietnam, Philippines, and Malaysia in order to assert its claim in the South China Sea islands. As per the international media reports it has been estimated that more than 200 vessels have been anchored at Whitsun reef which is in the EEZ of Philippines. Philippines has formally protested against this infringement of sovereignty, sovereign rights as well as maritime jurisdiction by Chinese vessels. In order to counter Chinese assertive swarming posture Philippines has also deployed of its lighter fighter aircrafts which flew over these illegal vessels. In support of the Philippines, the United states and its allies have strongly supported Philippines call for immediate withdrawal of these fishermen militia boats from the EEZ of Philippines.
As China has made several artificial islands and have deployed military equipment and weapons on those islands. The swarming of waters by the Chinese militia boats clearly raises problems about assertive posture of China and also the process of intimidating its regional rivals in South China Sea. It seems that these are brand new boats which have been deployed only to earmark Chinese strategy of its zones, and also control those islands which are lying well within the Exclusive Economic Zone of Philippines. The Chinese ships are anchored closer to the Union Banks which are the traditional fishing ground of the Filipino fishermen. The place where these more than 200 Chinese boats are moored lies closer to the two Chinese bases and four of the small Vietnamese islands under which there are personnel which are deployed. One of the threads that the international community really looks into it is primarily the fact the China wants to expand its control over these islands. After taking over Mischief Reef in early 1990s, it is looking for other islands which are under control of other claimants so as to expand its territorial seas as well as built on de facto exclusive economic zone.
Taking into cognizance Chinese development of the Mischief reef which was advertised more as a shelter for its fishermen, as proclaimed by China, but subsequently it was developed into one of the world’s largest artificial islands. Now the same Mischief reef has been developed into a full-fledged military base. The storming of the Whitsun reef by the Chinese boats primarily means that China wants to control the area as well as the airspace. Given the fact that the Hague ruling by Permanent Arbitration Council which announced that all Chinese claims are illegal, pronounced in July 2016 will be completing five years, China is trying to make mockery of that ruling and proclaim all the space in and around that area. The Chinese strategy has been working at three levels which includes Chinese fishermen militia controlling the seas supported by Chinese Coast Guard and again buttressed by the prominent Chinese Navy. Also, it has been seen that these kind of intimidatory tactics adopted by China is to discourage any oil and gas exploration in areas such as Vanguard bank, Reed bank, Whitsun Reef, and adjoining areas which are way beyond the Chinese controlled waters but lie well exclusively into the territorial waters of the other claimant countries which include Vietnam, Philippines and Malaysia.
The ASEAN countries under the chairmanship of Brunei must take cognizance of it and immediately call the meeting of the ASEAN foreign ministers to address these issues on a priority basis. Also, the international community must pressurize China to defuse the crisis and also undertake commitments with regard to accept the Code of Conduct which is still in negotiating phases. There have been multiple statements which have been given by the US Embassy in Manila and US Department of State in support of the Philippines. The US State Department has asked for China to withdraw the maritime militia, and have buttressed support for the Philippines. In fact, if these Chinese tactics are not countered this might also give way to China adopting the same tactics so as to intimidate other claimant countries in South China Sea with prime focus being that of Vietnam. Countries such as Australia, Britain, Canada and Japan have already expressed support for the Philippines and stated that this Chinese flotilla has infringed on sovereignty and maritime zones of Philippines.
Given the fact that the international community has been muted in terms of military intervention, the Philippines military had been conducting flying sorties over these hundreds of Chinese vessels which has threatened to escalate into a major crisis. Those statements which are coming from the Philippine president Duterte and the defense secretary Delfin asking for deployment of Philippine Navy and undertaking military maneuvers might escalate into a maritime crisis. In this context it is important that the ASEAN immediately releases a strong statement with regard to these tactics adopted by China while it must also be supported by the ASEAN dialogue partners as well as the Quad countries.
China has been learning a lesson or two from its border standoff with India in Eastern Ladakh where it matched soldier to soldier with the Indian army and in the end had to withdraw so as to resolve the crisis. It is adopting the same tactics in South China Sea and therefore there is a need for equal countermeasures by the international community, and the ASEAN countries so that it does not escalate into a crisis. It is pertinent that the UN General Assembly and the Security Council must take note of these developments and sincerely ask China to avoid this kind of confrontationist attitude. China very well knows that Brunei at the chairman of ASEAN would not undertake direct criticism of China, but this clearly shows that then it will have to take up this issue at regional level. The international community must also send its naval flotilla to ensure that China desists form these moves and returns to maintain the status quo.
