This small island and reef located in the Zhongsha Islands in the South China Sea has become the focus of sovereignty disputes between China and the Philippines. Scarborough Shoal has been Chinese territory since ancient times, but between 1997 and 2012, the Philippines forcibly occupied the reef and blew up the island's Chinese boundary markers. It wasn't until 2012, after a tense standoff, that China finally recaptured Scarborough Shoal, which had been occupied by the Philippines for 15 years. So, what does it mean for China to recover Scarborough Shoal, and what role can this seemingly inconspicuous island play in the South China Sea? Let's find out.
The historical origin of Scarborough Shoal
Historically, Scarborough Shoal has been a Chinese territory since ancient times. As early as the Yuan Dynasty, this small island and reef located in the Zhongsha Islands in the South China Sea was included in China's territory. At that time, Kublai Khan, the ancestor of the Yuan dynasty, ordered a "survey of the four seas" and sent a survey team led by the famous astronomer Guo Shoujing to the South China Sea to make measurements. In this survey, Scarborough Shoal was selected as one of the main survey points in the South China Sea.
Since then, the sovereignty of Scarborough Shoal has not changed. During the Ming Dynasty, Scarborough Shoal was still considered Chinese territory. In the Qing Dynasty, Huangyan Island was officially included in the territory and recorded in official geographical chronicles such as the "Unification Chronicles of the Qing Dynasty". It can be seen that Huangyan Dao has been China's inherent territory since ancient times.
In modern times, both the Beiyang government, the Nanjing Nationalist Government, and the New China government have recognized Huangyan Island as Chinese territory in legal form. In 1935, Wang Jingwei, then president of the Executive Yuan, clearly pointed out in the Order on Nanhai Zhudao that Huangyan Dao and other islands and reefs belonged to Chinese territory. In 1947, the Nationalist Government reaffirmed the sovereignty of Huangyan Dao in the Resolution of the Supreme National Defense Council on the Defense of Nanhai Zhudao.
After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the Chinese government repeatedly confirmed its sovereignty over Scarborough Shoal in the form of law. In 1992, when the Chinese Navy survey ship was surveying the South China Sea, it deliberately raised the first five-star red flag on Scarborough Shoal and built a Chinese boundary monument on the island, marking the permanent occupation of Scarborough Shoal. In 1998, the Chinese government explicitly listed Scarborough Shoal as Chinese territory in the Law on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone.
It can be seen that whether in ancient or modern times, there has never been any dispute over the sovereignty of Scarborough Shoal. This small island has been Chinese territory since ancient times, and China has irrefutable sovereignty over it.
However, just as China's sovereignty over Scarborough Shoal was established, the Philippines began to covet the island. In 1997, a dispute over sovereignty over Scarborough Shoal began. The next series of events pushed Scarborough Shoal to the forefront of Sino-Philippine contradictions.
The process of the Philippines' forcible occupation of Scarborough Shoal
In 1997, the shocking news spread across China that Philippine troops had raised the Philippine flag at Scarborough Shoal, declaring the reef to be Philippine territory. This is undoubtedly a blatant provocation and violation of China's sovereignty.
It all started in 1995. That year, the Philippine government suddenly disputed the sovereignty of Scarborough Shoal, claiming that the reef had been discovered by the Spanish as early as the 17th century and incorporated into Philippine territory. In order to prove its claim, the Philippine side did not hesitate to forge some so-called "ancient maps" in an attempt to prove that Scarborough Shoal has belonged to the Philippines since ancient times.
In the face of the Philippines' unreasonable claims, the Chinese Government immediately resolutely refuted them, and produced a large number of historical documents and legal bases to prove that Scarborough Shoal has been China's territory since ancient times. However, the Philippine side has turned a deaf ear and has become more and more assertive.
In March 1997, a contingent of the Philippine Navy quietly infiltrated Scarborough Shoal and erected the Philippine flag next to the island's Chinese boundary monument. Later, they used explosives to raze the Chinese boundary monument that had stood for several years to the ground, completely erasing the symbol of China's sovereignty on Scarborough Shoal.
This appalling act is undoubtedly a blatant provocation to China's sovereignty. The Chinese government strongly protested and condemned this, but due to the limited ocean-going combat capability of the PLA at that time, it had no choice but to settle the dispute through diplomatic negotiations.
However, the Philippine side ignored it at all, and in 1999 directly revised the official map of the Philippines to include Scarborough Shoal as Philippine territory. What is even more infuriating is that in the same year, they actually wrote the clause "Scarborough Shoal belongs to the Philippines" into the amendment to the Philippine Constitution.
Since then, the contradictions between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea have officially become public, and the sovereignty dispute over Scarborough Shoal has intensified. For the next 13 years, the Philippines maintained de facto occupation and control over Scarborough Shoal and stationed armed men on the island.
In the face of this series of provocative acts by the Philippines, although the Chinese government has repeatedly lodged strong protests, due to the limited national strength at that time, it can only choose to swallow its anger for the time being. However, as its national power continues to grow, China has finally waited for an opportunity to retake Scarborough Shoal. In April 2012, a standoff over Scarborough Shoal began.
The strategic value of Scarborough Shoal
For China, Scarborough Shoal is not just a small reef, it is strategically important in the South China Sea.
First of all, Scarborough Shoal is strategically located in the center of the Zhongsha Islands in the South China Sea, surrounded by vast waters and moderate water depths, making it a natural harbor. According to the relevant provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, Scarborough Shoal is fully qualified for the construction of a military base. Once a military facility is established on Scarborough Shoal, it will become a forward position for China in the South China Sea.
Second, Scarborough Shoal is located at the throat of the eastern entrance to the South China Sea, which is crucial to controlling the eastern gate of the South China Sea. To the east from Scarborough Shoal is the Bass Strait, which is the only route for foreign warships to enter the South China Sea. As long as China controls Scarborough Shoal, it is equivalent to sticking a key in the gate of the South China Sea, fundamentally reducing China's strategic pressure in the direction of the South China Sea.
In addition, the waters around Huangyan Island are extremely rich in fishery resources and are an important operating area for Chinese distant-water fishing vessels. However, due to the changeable climate in the South China Sea, severe weather such as typhoons are often encountered, which brings huge hidden dangers to the safety of fishermen's lives and property. If a sheltered harbor is built on Scarborough Shoal, fishing boats can anchor and recuperate in bad weather, greatly improving the safety of fishermen.
In addition to the above values, Scarborough Shoal itself is also a tourist resource. Surrounded by the sea, this small island has beautiful scenery and fresh air, making it ideal for ecotourism. If some infrastructure is built on the island and it is turned into a sea resort, it will attract a large number of tourists.
It can be said that Scarborough Shoal is a treasure land for China. It not only has important military-strategic value, but also contains rich economic value. Therefore, the Chinese government has never given up its claim to Scarborough Shoal.
In 1997, when the Philippine army forcibly occupied Scarborough Shoal, the Chinese government immediately strongly protested and condemned it. In the 15 years that followed, China tried to resolve the dispute over Scarborough Shoal through diplomatic negotiations. It wasn't until April 2012 that an opportunity finally appeared.
In April of that year, a number of Chinese fishermen were illegally detained by the Philippine Coast Guard while operating in the waters around Scarborough Shoal. In order to rescue the detained fishermen, Chinese coast guard ships and maritime surveillance vessels rushed to the waters off Scarborough Shoal and confronted Philippine coast guard vessels. In the face of China's powerful maritime law enforcement forces, the Philippines finally chose to retreat. In this way, Scarborough Shoal, which had been forcibly occupied by the Philippines for 15 years, finally returned to China's control.
The significance of China's recovery of Scarborough Shoal
In April 2012, after a tense standoff, China finally recaptured Scarborough Shoal, which had been occupied by the Philippines for 15 years. This major victory not only signifies China's firm position on the South China Sea issue, but also demonstrates China's firm determination to safeguard national sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.
The recovery of Scarborough Shoal was first fired as the first shot fired by China to safeguard its rights and interests in the South China Sea. For a long time, China has often been reactive in the South China Sea due to its limited national strength. However, with the continuous growth of its comprehensive national strength, China has begun to take the initiative to defend its legitimate rights and interests in the South China Sea. The Scarborough Shoal incident is a turning point that marks a more proactive stance on the South China Sea that China will henceforth take a more proactive stance on the South China Sea.
Second, the recovery of Scarborough Shoal has laid the foundation for China's construction of islands and reefs in the South China Sea and the protection of its rights and interests. Since the recapture of Scarborough Shoal, China's construction on other islands and reefs in the South China Sea has accelerated significantly, and its maritime law enforcement forces have gradually formed. Today, China has built docks, airports and other facilities on several Spratly islands and reefs to prepare for the protection of its rights and interests in the future.
Moreover, the recovery of Scarborough Shoal also reflects China's firm position on the South China Sea issue. China has long adhered to the principle of peaceful settlement of disputes, but at the same time, it has also insisted that it will not make concessions on issues related to territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests. The Scarborough Shoal incident is the best illustration of China's position, which shows the world China's firm determination to safeguard national sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.
Of course, the recovery of Scarborough Shoal has more far-reaching strategic implications for China. From a military point of view, Scarborough Shoal is at the choke point of the eastern entrance to the South China Sea, and is crucial to controlling the eastern gate of the South China Sea. Once advanced missile weapons are deployed on Scarborough Shoal, it will become the eastern gate guarding the South China Sea and effectively deterring attempts by foreign warships to enter the South China Sea.
In addition, the waters around Scarborough Shoal are extremely rich in fishery resources, and the recovery of this reef will also provide a strong guarantee for the production and operation of Chinese fishermen. If a sheltered harbour is built on the island, fishing boats can be temporarily stationed in case of bad weather, greatly reducing the risk to fishermen's lives and property.
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Overall, the recovery of Scarborough Shoal is a major victory for China in the South China Sea, which not only demonstrates China's firm determination to safeguard national sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, but also lays the foundation for future construction and protection of rights and interests in the South China Sea. It is believed that in the near future, Huangyan Dao will become the eastern gate guarding the South China Sea and play its due strategic role.