On September 10th, the Chinese Communist Party announced the establishment of a national-level “Nature Reserve” on the disputed island of Huangyan Island in the South China Sea. However, the general belief is that this move is aimed at strengthening sovereignty claims. Huangyan Island is located in a strategic waterway that involves over 3 trillion dollars in international shipping annually and is one of the most intense areas of contention between China and the Philippines. This action by the Chinese Communist Party may escalate tensions in the South China Sea.
The Chinese State Council stated that the reserve is an “important guarantee to maintain the diversity, stability, and sustainability of the natural ecosystem of Huangyan Island.” However, observers point out that the actual purpose is to solidify maritime rights. The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled in 2016 that Beijing’s extensive sovereignty claims in the South China Sea do not comply with international law, but China has refused to accept the ruling and continues its expansion through “grey zone operations”.
Last month, near Huangyan Island (Scarborough Shoal, known as Panatag Shoal in the Philippines), there was an incident where Chinese Coast Guard ships chased a Philippine Coast Guard ship, leading to a collision with Chinese naval vessels.
Meanwhile, the Japanese Times reported on Wednesday that Andres Centino, maritime affairs assistant to the Philippine President, revealed that the Philippines is developing a new set of internal rules to better coordinate actions among the coast guard, navy, maritime police department, and fisheries bureau to address China’s “grey zone operations” in the South China Sea.
He stated that the new rules will be released by the end of the year, covering rules of engagement and circumstances under which force can be used, aligning with the Philippine laws passed last year, including the Philippine Archipelagic Baselines Law and the Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act.
Centino pointed out that Chinese research ships have been conducting various activities in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, and the Philippines must establish a unified response. He emphasized that one of the goals of the new rules is to avoid escalation of conflicts, stating, “We do not want the situation to spiral out of control, but we will also respond firmly to illegal actions.”
The Philippines is also strengthening military exercises cooperation with the United States, Japan, and Australia, and negotiating military agreements with Canada, France, and New Zealand. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. warned last year that if Philippine citizens are intentionally killed by Chinese forces, it would be “very close to an act of war”, and at that point, the Philippines might invoke the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty signed with the United States.