Whitsun reef, a V-shaped reef, which is also known as Julian Felipe Reef, has been at the centre of international attention. China has encroached into the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the Philippines by positioning more than 200 Chinese fishermen militia boats in March 2021 which were anchored near the reef. The reef lies in the EEZ of Philippines. The reason that the China has given with regard to locating its fishermen militia boats in this region is the increment weather and the inability of these boats to return back to the coast. In fact, the photographs which have been procured by different media agencies showcases that these boats do not have any fishing equipment onboard while China has been giving a plausible reason that these fishing boats have been moved closer to the 170 kilometres of the Palawan because of the inclement weather.There has been calls in the Philippines polity that Philippine’s China policy has failed miserably and after the Scarborough Shoal incident of 2012 maybe China is making similar tactics in the Whitsun reef also.
It has been seen in the past the China has always try to encroach into Exclusive Economic Zones of other countries in South China Sea by positioning its maritime militia which has been ably supported by the Coast Guard patrol vessels and advanced naval ships for forceful occupation in the contentious areas. The tension between China and the US has also increased tension between China and other claimant states in South China Sea.
There has been criticism of President Duterte that despite his cajoling China since 2016 with regard to Philippine’s maritime claims, he has undermined Philippine national interest and also sabotaged Philippines legitimate and lawful claims in its Exclusive Economic Zone particularly with reference to West Philippine Sea. The July 2016 Hague tribunal award which has made all Chinese claims of EEZ with regard to its occupied island’s as illegal and illegitimate has now been turned upside down with China claiming Exclusive Economic Zones of even sand bars which are visible during high tide.China has again and again reiterated that the 2016 Hague ruling in the favour of Philippines over contested features in the South China Sea was “illegal, null and void”. China has been trying very hard to change the status quo through forceful deployment of its maritime militia and the incident in Whitsun reef showcases that the international maritime order has been under threat because of swarming activities undertaken by the Chinese fishing boats. It has been seen in the past that China has retreated after a forceful repulse of its activities both through regional initiatives as well as international pressure against its activities.
The mooring together of People’s Armed Forces Maritime Militia (PAFMM) at Whitsun reef since March 2021 was meant to extend China’s maritime claims through repeated deployment of vessels to claim those unguarded territories or those areas which are also claimed by other ASEAN claimant countries. Even though in the March when there were more than 200 vessels which were anchored together there are now barely 14 vessels which are stationed at the reef. However, these vessels have been scattered at other places so as to show that they have technically retreated but can come back to claim the maritime space, if required. The maritime militia of China are seen as lightly armed paramilitary vessels which have been used in the past also to harass the fishermen of other countries to provide protected fishing areas for the Chinese boats.
These developments in the West of Palawan showcases that there might be a repeat of the Scarborough Shoal incident in 2012 when the US brokered deal between China and Philippines to withdraw their vessels from the contested area was seen as a breakthrough. However, subsequently China deployed its maritime militia as well as supporting Coast Guard vessels and denied the use of the marine space for fishing activities particularly for the Filipino fishermen. While the crisis has been defused for the time being but it is expected that China would once again come to claim that area so as to expand its control over the South China Sea.
It has been seen in the past also that Chinese maritime survey ships which have gone across Reed Bank, Vanguard Bank and Union Bank were meant to outline the areas under Chinese control and China has been trying to defend sovereignty over these EEZ spaces. While it is seen that China has been claiming and then retracting from those areas but it is making these as routine affairs which will undermine the international order at sea. Chinese activities particularly with regard to threatening the international oil exploration activities as well as fishing activities of the other claimed countries are meant to consolidate Chinese control over the first island chain (a fictitious line connecting Taiwan, Okinawa and the Philippines). US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said, “the United States stands with our Philippine ally in upholding the rules-based international maritime order.”
At the regional level the requirement is that ASEAN should take note of the developments and should issue a strong statement in support of Philippines. Secondly, it should provide ample evidence of Chinese illegal activities to the dialogue partners and it should reconsider its Treaty of Amity and Cooperation with China. The international media agencies should be brought to monitor Chinese activities and Vietnam as the representative of ASEAN in UNSC should highlight the core concerns of the countries in the region. The ASEAN Chair Brunei must call an emergency meeting to discuss Code of Conduct with ASEAN members on a priority and release a joint statement to China showing strong disapproval of its activities.
