Philippines Removes Chinese Barrier in Contested Area of South China Sea

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The Philippines has removed a floating barrier installed by China in a contested area of the South China Sea. The barrier, which was made up of buoys and ropes, was blocking the entrance to a lagoon at Scarborough Shoal, a rocky outcrop that is claimed by both China and the Philippines.

The Philippine Coast Guard said that it removed the barrier on Monday, September 25, 2023, following an order from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Coast Guard said that the barrier was a "hazard to navigation" and a "clear violation of international law."

The Chinese Foreign Ministry defended the actions of its coast guard, saying that they were "necessary measures" to protect China's sovereignty and interests. However, the Philippines has rejected this claim, saying that China has no legal basis for its claims to Scarborough Shoal.

The removal of the Chinese barrier is a significant development in the long-running dispute over the South China Sea. China claims the vast majority of the sea, including areas that are also claimed by other Southeast Asian countries. The dispute has led to tensions and occasional clashes between China and its neighbors.

The Philippines' removal of the Chinese barrier is a sign that it is not willing to back down in its dispute with China. The move is also likely to increase tensions between the two countries.

It is unclear how China will respond to the Philippines' removal of the barrier. China has a history of retaliating against countries that challenge its claims in the South China Sea. However, it is also possible that China will try to avoid escalating the dispute, given the current international tensions.

The removal of the Chinese barrier is a positive development for the Philippines, but it is important to note that it does not resolve the underlying dispute over the South China Sea. The dispute is likely to continue for many years to come.

What is the South China Sea dispute?

The South China Sea is a rich fishing ground that is believed to hold vast oil and gas reserves. More than half of the world's fishing vessels operate in this area.

China's claims - which include sovereignty over plots of land and their adjacent waters - have angered not just the Philippines but also Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei.

China has backed its expansive claims with island-building and naval patrols.

The US says it does not take sides in territorial disputes, but has sent military ships and planes near disputed islands in what it calls "freedom of navigation" operations.

Beijing seized the Scarborough Shoal in 2012 and forced fishermen from the Philippines to travel further for smaller catches.

It later allowed the Philippines to fish nearby when relations improved under former President Rodrigo Duterte.

However, tensions have heightened since Ferdinand Marcos Jr became president last year.

President Marcos Jr restored security ties with the US and in early 2023 granted American troops wider access to Philippine military bases.

This angered China as a larger US presence in the Philippines provides Washington with an arc of alliances stretching from South Korea and Japan in the north to Australia in the south.