Alarm raised: China advancing at sea

 

TT-AFP

 

Published 09.08

 

A Philippine naval vessel near Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea. File photo from 2023. Photo: Aaron Favila/AP/TT

The Philippines has raised the alarm that China is advancing its positions in the contested waters of the southern South China Sea.

In September, 101 vessels from China's navy or coast guard were sighted near Philippine-controlled islands within the Spratly Islands group, the Philippine military reports. This is nearly double the number recorded in August.

China, the Philippines, and several other nations lay claim to areas, islands, and atolls in the South China Sea. Chinese and Philippine vessels occasionally clash, leading to confrontations that spark heated diplomatic fallout.

China claims almost the entire South China Sea, despite a 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague stating there is no legal basis for such claims. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam also assert claims to these waters.