The Philippines has accused China of constructing a floating barrier measuring approximately 1,000 feet in the disputed South China Sea. A photograph shared by Jay Tarriela, the spokesperson for the Philippines Coast Guard, reveals the extent of the barrier.
In a statement released on the state-run Philippine News Agency, national security advisor Eduardo Año assured the public that the Philippines will take “all appropriate actions” to remove the barrier. He condemned the installation of the floating barrier, further straining the already tense relationship between the two neighboring Asian countries.
The barrier was discovered blocking Filipino fishing boats from entering the Scarborough Shoal, a chain of reefs located about 120 nautical miles west of Luzon, in the Philippines’ Zambales Province. The Philippine Coast Guard publicly shared pictures and videos of the barrier on social media, raising awareness of the issue.
According to the Coast Guard, three Chinese Coast Guard boats, accompanied by Chinese maritime militia service vessels, placed the floating barrier in the southeast portion of the shoal. This obstruction has had a significant impact on the livelihoods of Filipino fishermen in the area. Chinese Coast Guard vessels reportedly initiated 15 radio challenges against around 50 Filipino fishing boats, accusing them of violating international and Chinese laws. However, the Chinese boats left the area upon realizing the presence of media personnel aboard Filipino government boats that had responded to the situation.
It is important to note that China claims about 90% of the South China Sea through its disputed Nine-Dash-Line maps. However, these claims were invalidated in 2016 by The Hague’s Permanent Court of Arbitration, which ruled that Beijing had no historic rights to the region. Nonetheless, China has controlled the Scarborough Shoal, which it refers to as Huangyan Island, since 2012, leading to ongoing tensions between the two countries.
In response to the floating barrier, Año reminded China of the 2016 decision and highlighted the centuries-long history of Filipino fishing in the area. He stated that any state preventing Filipino fishermen from conducting artisanal fishing violates the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and international law. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has been informed of the situation, and the National Security Council awaits his response. It has been suggested that the Philippines has the legal right to remove the barriers, as they are located within the country’s 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone.
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