China and the Philippines Clash Again Over South China Sea Ownership

China and the Philippines have been in continual disputes over sovereignty in the South China Sea.

On the 31st, Yonhap News reported, citing Chinese Coast Guard social media (SNS), that on the 28th, the Chinese Coast Guard had expelled four Filipinos who had entered the Huangyan Island shoal.

A Chinese Coast Guard spokesperson stated on social media, “China has undisputed sovereignty over Huangyan Island and its adjacent waters, and has consistently opposed the Philippines’ infringement of rights. The Chinese coast guard will continue to carry out the protection of rights and law enforcement activities in the waters under China’s jurisdiction, and firmly safeguard national sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.”

The Chinese coast guard also released a video sending a warning message to the Philippine side.

China and the Philippines have been in successive clashes over the South China Sea sovereignty issue. China claims about 90% of the area within the nine-dash line (a U-shaped line) in the South China Sea as its territorial waters.

In response, the Philippines filed a lawsuit with the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), which ruled in 2016 that China’s territorial claims lacked a legal basis under international law. However, China has ignored this and is in dispute with the Philippines, Vietnam, and others.

The Chinese Coast Guard was also accused by the Philippine side of firing a water cannon at a Philippine Fisheries Bureau vessel that was trying to supply food to a Philippine fishing boat near the Scarborough Shoal last month.