South China Sea Convoy Challenges Beijing’s Territorial Claims

[ad_1] A coalition of Philippine civilians has launched into its third mission to defy China's territorial claims within the South China Sea.

Whereas the Atin Ito coalition—Tagalog for "That is Ours"—anticipated a doable problem from China's assertive coast guard, the volunteers sought to ship a "message of peace and unity," spokesperson Rafaela David instructed native media on Monday.

Why It Issues China claims sovereignty over roughly 90 % of the South China Sea, citing "historic rights," regardless of a Hague-based arbitral tribunal's 2016 ruling dismissing the claims as incompatible with maritime legislation.

China's expansive strikes within the Philippines' unique financial zone have been met with pushback. The outcome has been spiraling tensions and dramatic standoffs between the international locations' authorities forces, elevating issues a couple of potential battle that would set off the Philippines' Mutual Protection Treaty with the USA.

Newsweek reached out to the Chinese language International Ministry by electronic mail for remark.

A Chinese language Coast Guard ship screens a Philippine fishing boat throughout the distribution of gasoline and meals to fishers by the civilian-led mission Atin Ito (This Is Ours) Coalition, within the disputed South China Sea... A Chinese language Coast Guard ship screens a Philippine fishing boat throughout the distribution of gasoline and meals to fishers by the civilian-led mission Atin Ito (This Is Ours) Coalition, within the disputed South China Sea on Might 16, 2024. Extra Ted Aljibe/AFP through Getty Photos What To Know Greater than 150 volunteers—together with activists, fishermen, musicians, and civic and church leaders—set sail for Philippines-controlled Thitu Island early Tuesday morning as a part of a convoy centered on the civilian vessel Kapitan Felix Oca.

Tensions over Thitu, the one inhabited function within the Spratly Islands archipelago and residential to a modest navy outpost, flared up once more in latest days.

Final week, China's coast guard executed close-quarter blocking maneuvers and deployed its water cannon in close by waters whereas trying to drive off a Philippine fisheries bureau vessel that Manila stated was supporting a scientific mission.

The group stated it aimed to distribute provides akin to meals, drugs and gasoline to native fishermen and servicemembers stationed on the garrison. Performers may even maintain a live performance on the island as a message of solidarity.

"We aren't simply asserting territory. We're asserting that strange Filipinos have a stake right here," David instructed reporters earlier than departure from Manila on Monday. "We won't be intimidated."

The Philippine coast guard stated it deployed one in every of its largest patrol ships, the BRP Melchora Aquino, together with the smaller BRP Malapascua, to escort the Felix Oca.

As of three p.m. native time, two Chinese language coast guard ships had been noticed "shadowing" the civilian convoy about 66 miles off the north coast of Palawan province, Philippine coast guard spokesperson Jay Tarriela wrote on X, previously Twitter.

The Chinese language vessels reportedly issued radio challenges asserting China's declare and citing "home and worldwide legislation," whereas rejecting the 2016 arbitral choice.

"In response to the unauthorized patrol by the China Coast Guard, the Philippine coast guard vessels have initiated radio communications to problem [Chinese coast guard vessel] 3306's declare of working beneath the jurisdiction of the Individuals's Republic of China," Tarriela stated.

What Individuals Are Saying Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, a Philippine navy spokesperson, instructed Newsweek: "We don't speculate on the actions of any adversary. However, we're prepared to answer any menace which will face the Atin Ito convoy."

The Chinese language Embassy within the Philippines, in an announcement: "Nansha Qundao, together with Tiexian Jiao, has all the time been China's territory. China has indeniable sovereignty over Nansha Qundao [the Spratly Island group] and its adjoining waters.