26.01.2025 00:01
The interception of two research vessels belonging to the Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources by the Chinese Coast Guard and Navy in the South China Sea has led to tensions between the two countries. The incident occurred near Sandy Reef, where a sovereignty dispute is ongoing.
A new development has occurred in the sovereignty crisis in the South China Sea.
CHINESE NAVY BLOCKED PHILIPPINE RESEARCH VESSELS
As Chinese Coast Guard vessels approached two Philippine ships conducting research near Sandy Reef in the northern Spratly Islands, a helicopter belonging to the Chinese navy flew over two boats that had departed from the ship to collect sand samples, obstructing the research mission.
NOT UNDER THE COMPLETE CONTROL OF ANY COUNTRY FOR THE LAST 25 YEARS
The Sandy Reef, known as "Tieşien Jiao" by the Chinese, "Bailan" by the Filipinos, and "Dao Son Ca" by the Vietnamese, was occupied by Vietnam in 1974. The reef has not been under the complete control of any country for the last 25 years. This 7-hectare sand islet has become a new point of friction between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea.
SOUTH CHINA SEA DISPUTE
Since the end of World War II, when coastal countries gained their independence, the South China Sea has been at the center of sovereignty disputes among regional countries. China first claimed sovereignty over 80% of the South China Sea with a map published in 1947, while the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, and Malaysia also assert rights in this resource-rich area. The construction of bases by China on disputed islands in the region, along with the presence of military elements and civilian fleets, has been opposed not only by regional countries but also by the United States.
The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, Netherlands, ruled in 2016, following a complaint from the Philippines, that China's unilateral claims of sovereignty in the South China Sea were not legal.