The South China Sea, one of the hottest points in global geopolitics, has once again become the scene of a tense confrontation between China and the Philippines. On Monday, another conflict between the two countries erupted near the disputed Sabina Shoal, which is located in the Spratly Islands.
This time, the Chinese naval forces decided to show their "power" by blocking the work of the Philippine Coast Guard. The latter was trying to resupply the flagship Teresa Magbanua, which has been anchored near the shoal since April this year. However, China did not ignore these actions, gathering a fleet of 40 vessels that chased the two Philippine Coast Guard boats throughout the water area.
The incident was the third clash between Chinese and Philippine naval forces in a week. On Sunday, a Chinese boat collided with a Philippine vessel that was supplying food and fuel to local fishermen. And even earlier, on August 19, China already rammed Philippine ships, confirming its aggressive position in this region.
The reason for such tension is clear - territorial claims. The Sabina Shoal is within the Philippines' recognized economic zone, and the ship Teresa Magbanua is patrolling it precisely because Philippine forces have detected signs of illegal activity by China. However, China considers this territory its own, ignoring all international norms and economic zones.
It is interesting that the next stage of this confrontation coincided with the arrival in China of the US special representative on climate issues, John Kerry. The question of a possible escalation of the situation remains open, but one thing is clear: China continues to demonstrate its ambitions in the region, despite international criticism and concerns about the disruption of peace and stability in the South China Sea.
