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The Philippines and the United States have jointly accused China of unlawfully targeting two Philippine supply vessels in the South China Sea using water cannons, marking a serious escalation in Beijing’s aggressive campaign surrounding a Philippine-occupied shoal in these contested waters. This incident highlights the growing tensions and the precarious nature of maritime security in the region, as both nations strive to safeguard their interests against China’s assertive actions.

A vessel from the Chinese coast guard obstructed and used water cannons against the second of two boats chartered by the Philippine navy, which were tasked with resupplying troops stationed at a military outpost. The Philippine armed forces and the Philippine coast guard released statements confirming these events on Sunday morning, underscoring the ongoing maritime conflicts.

The confrontation on the Second Thomas Shoal sandbank on Saturday prevented the vessel from delivering essential supplies, including food, water, and fuel, which are critical for the sustenance of the troops stationed there. The Philippine navy lamented that this act demonstrated a flagrant disregard for the safety of those on board and constituted a blatant violation of international law. This incident not only raises questions about maritime safety but also highlights the need for adherence to established legal frameworks governing territorial waters.

The US State Department has asserted that China holds “no lawful claim” to the maritime territory surrounding Second Thomas Shoal, emphasizing that this area lies well within the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines. This statement reflects the significant diplomatic tensions and the commitment of the US to support its ally, reinforcing its stance against unilateral claims made by China in these disputed waters.

In the event of an armed assault on Philippine vessels, aircraft, or military personnel, including the coast guard, the US has warned that such actions would activate its mutual defense obligations under the military alliance with Manila. This declaration serves as a strong reminder of the potential consequences of China’s aggressive maritime actions and highlights the importance of international alliances in maintaining regional stability.

In response, China’s coast guard has claimed it enacted “necessary control measures” after asserting that two supply ships and two Philippine coast guard vessels “illegally trespassed” into waters near the shoal, alleging that the Philippine vessels were carrying “illegal building materials.” This counter-claim underscores the contentious nature of maritime sovereignty in the South China Sea and the ongoing disputes over resource claims.

This incident is part of a broader pattern of confrontations occurring around Second Thomas Shoal, known as Ayungin in the Philippines and Ren’ai Jiao in China. While Beijing asserts extensive claims over the South China Sea, its assertions conflict with the territorial claims and control exercised by other nations, including Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Taiwan, and Indonesia, creating a complex web of geopolitical tensions in the region.

Documented by Manila through photographs and drone footage, this latest incident occurs just ten days before China is scheduled to commence another round of negotiations with competing claimants regarding a code of conduct for the disputed waters. Unfortunately, efforts to establish such a code have remained largely fruitless since they began in 2002, reflecting the challenges of achieving consensus in a region fraught with territorial disputes.

Second Thomas Shoal is one of several flashpoints where the Chinese coast guard, maritime surveillance vessels, and maritime militia have intensified their harassment of ships from rival claimants over the past two years. The Philippine navy maintains a small contingent of soldiers stationed on the shoal aboard the BRP Sierra Madre, a former WWII-era US warship that was deliberately grounded there in 1999 to assert Philippine sovereignty.

A 2016 arbitration ruling declared China’s claims in the South China Sea unlawful under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, yet Beijing has persistently rejected this ruling and continues to ignore its implications. This ongoing disregard for international legal decisions exacerbates tensions and complicates diplomatic relations in the region.

In February, Manila reported that a Chinese coast guard ship temporarily blinded the crew of a Philippine coast guard vessel near the shoal by directing a laser at them. Furthermore, in April, the Philippine coast guard raised concerns about dangerous maneuvers conducted by a Chinese coast guard vessel, again in the vicinity of the sandbank, highlighting the escalating risks faced by maritime personnel in these contested waters.

“China is crossing the line and will not stop until it forces [the Philippines] out of Ayungin [Second Thomas] Shoal,” commented Jay Batongbacal, director of the University of the Philippines Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea, via Twitter. He warned that if China succeeds in expelling the Philippines from this area, it could set a precedent for further aggressive actions against other nations in the region, potentially leading to broader territorial conflicts.