The Scarborough Shoal dispute: Geopolitics and South China Sea strategy
Recently, the Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources announced their plans that fishery administration vessels, coast guard vessels, and 50 fishing boats will enter the waters around Scarborough Shoal for fishing, and even plan to enter the Scarborough Shoal lagoon. However, four of our coast guard vessels issued 15 radio warnings in a row to warn the Philippine vessels to stop advancing. However, as the Filipino vessels moved on, they suddenly encountered a huge obstacle, the floating barrier, which is made up of large fishing nets and thick ropes, which can effectively block the progress of small and medium-sized coast guard vessels and fishing boats, in fact, this is an impregnable barrier at sea, and we have also maneuvered nearby.
The Philippine Coast Guard apparently did not anticipate that near Scarborough Shoal, floating barriers had been fully erected to prohibit outside vessels from entering. Let us today look back at the Scarborough Shoal dispute, which has been going on for more than 20 years.
In 1279, during the Yuan Dynasty, Guo Shoujing of the mainland had successfully landed on Huangyan Island, and since then, Huangyan Island has been the territory of the mainland. We met two key conditions, first, we have historical sovereignty and historical evidence that the mainland first discovered and effectively managed Scarborough Shoal. Second, we continue to manage the region effectively. The so-called Scarborough Shoal on the map of Spanish priests in 1652 proposed by the Philippines is actually more than 400 years earlier than ours, so it has no legal effect at all.
The strategic importance of Scarborough Shoal cannot be underestimated as it is located in one of the largest fishing areas in the South China Sea and has convenient port and base facilities. In addition, Scarborough Shoal controls three major passages into the South China Sea, including the Balintang Strait and the Babuyan Strait, as well as the necessary passage for the Japan-South Korea sea route into Asia, Africa and Europe. As a result, the United States, Japan, and South Korea are all keeping a close eye on the ownership of Scarborough Shoal.
The situation took a major turn in 2012, when 12 Chinese fishing boats entered the Scarborough Shoal lagoon to conduct fishing operations. However, the Philippine Navy and Coast Guard quickly dispatched to try to seize our fishing boats and fishermen. On April 10, three Chinese coast guard vessels and fishery administration vessels arrived at the scene, and a confrontation broke out. Since May 2012, China has basically grasped the actual control of Scarborough Shoal and its adjacent waters. With an area of 139 square kilometers, Scarborough Shoal is the largest reef in Sansha City, and it controls the vast eastern part of the South China Sea, covering an area of about 400,000 square kilometers. Scarborough Shoal's status cannot be ignored, as it is an important link in the nine-dash line of the South China Sea, monitoring the sea lanes in the eastern part of the South China Sea.
However, the situation remains complex, particularly with regard to Second Thomas Shoal. Philippine Deputy Secretary of Defense Irenio Espino recently warned that the condition of the USS Sierra Madre on Second Thomas Shoal had deteriorated dramatically and that the supply of building materials could not keep up with the rate of corrosion. This means that Second Thomas Shoal may be in danger in the near future. The Philippines may risk taking bigger action, but they face enormous risks.
In short, despite the current positive developments, we should not take things lightly. As time goes on, the issue of Second Thomas Shoal is likely to become more urgent, so we need to be on high alert. In addition, the United States may take more actions behind its back, including launching a special operation, to fight for Second Thomas Shoal. Therefore, we must remain vigilant and continue to defend the territory and sovereignty of the country.