By PX Media @ Adobe Stock
The editors of the War on the Rocks biweekly email, The Adversarial, describe the situation in the South China Sea’s Sabina Shoal, where the Chinese and Philippine coast guards are near battle over the rocks there. Should America, with its Mutual Defense Treaty with the Philippines, get involved in a war with China over some rocks in the ocean? The editors write:
Tensions flared again this week between the People’s Republic of China and the Philippines — this time, at Sabina Shoal, which lies between Palawan and Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands, within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone. A Chinese Coast Guard effort to intercept two Philippine Coast Guard cutters, which were conducting resupply to several islands in the Spratlys, resulted in collisions between the vessels, which the Philippine government said damaged both ships.
Tensions have risen near Sabina Shoal since the spring, after the discovery of crushed corals triggered Philippine fears of intended Chinese land reclamation and prompted Manila to send a coast guard ship to the area. China subsequently sent its own coast guard ships there, including its largest Coast Guard ship, and also sent maritime militia.
Chinese spokesperson Mao Ning blamed the Philippines for the recent collision and asserted that the area, called Xianbin Jiao by China, is Chinese territory.
U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan condemned China’s “deliberate collision” during a call with his counterpart in Manila, Eduardo Año, when the two also discussed the recent announcement that the United States would provide $500 million in Foreign Military Financing to the Philippines. The United States also stated that Article IV of the Mutual Defense Treaty applies to armed attacks on the Philippine Coast Guard and other “public vessels” anywhere in the South China Sea.
The incident calls into question the sustainability of an agreement reached last month between Manila and Beijing, aimed at reducing frictions around nearby Second Thomas Shoal, though almost immediately the two sides appeared to publicly disagree over what they had agreed to.
Read more here.
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