Spratly incident: Philippines summons Chinese ambassador

On Saturday, August 5, the Chinese Coast Guard fired water cannon in the South China Sea, at ships escorted by the Filipinos going to supply soldiers stationed aboard Sierra Madre, a ship dating from the Second World War stranded in the disputed waters. The event further reignites tensions between the Philippines and China over the South China Sea.

Philippine Coast Guard and Navy vessels near Sierra Madre and Second Thomas Atoll in the South China Sea in April 2023. AP - Aaron Favila

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For this summons of the Chinese ambassador, Manila handed over a note verbale to the Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs, with photos and videos of the incident.

A summons against a background of tension, and therefore not surprising. On Sunday, the Philippines reacted quickly, calling Beijing's actions "illegal and dangerous."

For its part, China describes its water cannon firing as "professional and measured". Beijing believes it has acted "necessary" against these Filipino boats that it accuses of having entered its waters "illegally".

See alsoSouth China Sea: Chinese water cannon fire on Philippine ships

The vessel "Sierra Madre", anchored off Second Thomas, in the Spratlys, South China Sea (2014). This weekend, Filipinos seeking to refuel the men aboard this wreck were threatened by Chinese water cannons. Not far from there: Mischief Atoll, under the control of Beijing. AP - Bullit Marquez

As a reminder, in 2016, the Hague Court of Arbitration concluded that China had no "historical rights" over the majority of the South China Sea. A judgment qualified as a farce by Beijing.

In general, the Philippines and China regularly experience tensions in this region where the United States, too, has strengthened its presence in recent years, notably thanks to a rapprochement with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Junior.

To readWith the son Marcos, what posture for the Philippines in the "China Sea"?

Among the international condemnations over the weekend, the US State Department also mentioned the incident, calling it "dangerous actions by China."

David Camroux, senior honorary researcher at Science po-Ceri, confirms that tensions are rising and are not about to stop there.

The Chinese are fueling a kind of front against China, which is still a bit surprising with the change of the president in the Philippines. The current President Ferdinand "Bonggong" Marcos, who has been in power now for a little over a year, was at his inauguration rather on the line of his predecessor, that is to say: we will try to keep good relations with China and with the United States...

01:02

David Camroux, Sciences Po-Ceri

Clea Broadhurst

See alsoThe "small" neighbors of the "big" maritime China

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  • China
  • Philippines
  • Diplomacy
  • Defense
  • United States