'They will be taken over': Fresh threat for Philippines as dispute with China erupts
Foreign Correspondent journeys to one of the world's most contested islands where China's shadowy 'maritime militia' lurks just off the coast.
A fresh threat looms for the Philippines as tensions escalate in a dispute with China over control of the South China Sea. In a region already buzzing with Chinese naval activity, local fishermen bear witness to the mounting confrontation. Joseph, a Filipino fisherman, guides a reporter through Thitu Island's fishing grounds, surrounded by Chinese ships and helicopters during a routine fishing trip.
Joseph warns that the islands in the Spratly Islands, like Thitu, are destined to be taken over by China. Former Chinese diplomat Victor Gao, a well-connected analyst, echoes this sentiment, stating that these islands will be taken by China, leaving Filipinos with a "fantasy" of safety in areas west of East 118 degrees longitude.
The legal basis for the dispute lies within the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which grants the Philippines a 370-kilometer Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) extending from its coastline, known as the West Philippine Sea. Under international law, the Philippines secured a significant victory a decade ago when an arbitration court at The Hague ruled China's nine-dash line, which claims almost the entire South China Sea, had no legal foundation. However, China, a signatory to UNCLOS, rejected the ruling, deeming it "illegal, null and void."
Foreign Correspondent embarks on a six-day journey to and from Pag-asa Island, part of the Spratly Islands, aboard a civilian activist ship. Co-convener of the West Philippine Sea, Atin Ito, a coalition of activists and local media, aims to raise awareness of China's illegal activities in the contested waters. The expedition is driven by a "sense of solidarity" for fellow Filipinos, hoping to pressure China to stop its aggressive actions.
The Philippines government has long monitored a surge of Chinese ships entering the Philippines EEZ, causing frequent confrontations, with the most recent clash in July resulting in a Filipino sailor losing a thumb.
The Philippines Coast Guard frequently posts videos on social media illustrating China's aggressive tactics, including ramming, harassing, blocking, and water-cannoning Filipino vessels. Co-convener of Atin Ito, Rafaela David, emphasizes that China's actions are "illegal, coercive, aggressive and deceptive." These actions, often categorized as "grey zone" tactics, fall short of triggering war but serve to apply pressure on a nation.
For the Philippines, there is no room for ambiguity, as these actions are deemed "illegal, coercive, aggressive and deceptive."
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
