Philippines Dismantles Chinese Barrier in the South China Sea

Written by Kevin Williams | October 1, 2023

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Around Monday, September 25, Filipino divers severed a Chinese ball-buoy-barrier near the entrance of the contested Scarborough Shoal. The buoy’s placement is part of China’s policing strategy to block Filipino boats from fishing near the shoal.

Following the Philippines’ successful coast guard operation, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. stated during a news briefing in southern Surigao del Norte province that, “we’re not looking for trouble, but what we’ll do is to continue defending the maritime territory of the Philippines and the rights of our fishermen, who have been fishing in those areas for hundreds of years.”

Wang Wenbin, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, responded, “what the Philippines [has] done is nothing but a farce that entertains itself. China will continue to safeguard the territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests of Hangman Island.”

The Scarborough Shoal, known as Huangyan Island to China, stands as one of numerous claims decreed by China but disputed by nations within the region. In the past, Chinese ships have employed tactics of shadowing, harassment, dangerous maneuvers, water cannoning, and military grade lasers against Filipino vessels. Chinese activity clashes with an unenforceable international court decision which favored the Philippines’ territorial claim.

Cooling relations between China and the Philippines marks a departure from Marcos’ predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, who favored warming ties with Beijing. Disputes in the South China Sea can carry major repercussions as it contains one of the busiest sea lanes in the world. It is unclear what impacts the shoal cutting operation have in motivating other nations in the region to more proactively resist Beijing’s maritime activity.