Tensions have grown between China and the Philippines, between which there are maritime disputes over the South China Sea. According to multiple sources including the BBC and CNN, tensions between Manila and Beijing have sharply been escalating for several months. While China has increased its maritime patrols in the South China Sea nearing the Philippines, the latter has increased its defense against China. But at the beginning of this month, an encounter occurred between the Philippine Coast Guard escorts and the China Coast Guard — rendered to be the most serious between the countries in the South China Sea to date — leading to tensions between the countries anew.
Given the dispute between China and the Philippines, the rise in tensions will not be surprising at all in the future. Notably, their maritime dispute revolves around competing territorial claims and resource exploitation in the South China Sea. China argues that its territorial claims in the South China Sea including the Spratly Islands and Scarborough Shoal are based on historical records and the nine-dash line map while the Philippines argues that China’s expansive claims are unsupported by international law and infringe upon their Exclusive Economic Zone and territorial waters, leading to their disputes and tensions. But there was a notable escalation with increased patrols and coast guards in the South China Sea in 2023 driven by China’s aggressive island-building activities and the Philippines’ efforts to assert its sovereignty.
Diplomatic and other steps have been taken to resolve maritime tensions and disputes. While diplomatic negotiations and dialogues with other Southeast Asian countries have resulted in several outcomes such as the 1992 ASEAN Declaration on the South China Sea and the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, the Philippines filed a case against China at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague that declared China’s claims to the South China Sea as invalid in 2016. Also, efforts for a peaceful resolution are ongoing. But efforts have failed to bring any desired outcomes because of several causes including the unwillingness of the parties especially China and its preference for bilateral negotiations, instead of multilateral talks.
It is desired that effective steps be taken to mitigate tensions and resolve disputes between the parties over the South China Sea — the center of a territorial dispute between China, the Philippines and several other countries in the region. Finding a peaceful resolution through diplomatic negotiations is desired. International arbitration may be helpful but it remains uncertain. Notably, China does not adhere to the arbitration of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague and the law of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. According to multiple sources, China claims that the Philippines’ case is an attempt to undermine its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
But finding a peaceful resolution to the maritime dispute is definitely crucial for peace not only between China and the Philippines but also in the region, probably involving several other countries including, but not limited to, the United States. Notably, the US has a mutual defense treaty with the Philippines, the Mutual Defense Treaty of 1951, that makes the former bound to come to the aid of the latter in the event of a Chinese attack. But several other challenges, along with the unwillingness of China, including competing economic interests and increased military presence in the disputed area may put barriers.
Diplomatic steps definitely need to be continued to resolve the maritime dispute. International steps including diplomatic steps of international organizations including, but not limited to, the United Nations and the ASEAN may play crucial roles in mitigating the dispute over the South China Sea and bringing peace. But the good intentions of the parties including China are also crucial to resolve the maritime dispute in the South China Sea. Among others, strengthened diplomatic relations between the countries and engaging in confidence-building measures may help prevent further escalation between the countries.
