(source : ANI) ( Photo Credit : ani)
China’s aggressive moves in the South China Sea are sparking serious concerns among experts. Recent incidents, like water cannon attacks on Philippine boats and the setup of a controversial nature reserve, suggest Beijing wants to solidify its grip on disputed waters.
Analysts point out that these actions could erode regional sovereignty, challenge international maritime law, and shake up stability across the Indo-Pacific. Reports from The Epoch Times highlight how China’s coast guard ships blasted a Philippine fishing vessel with high-pressure water cannons near Scarborough Shoal. Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Jay Tarriela shared on LinkedIn that the attack damaged the boat badly and injured a crew member from flying glass shards.
Chinese officials stood by their response, saying they were just enforcing control over what they call their territorial waters. But a 2016 ruling from the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague shot down China’s broad claims in the South China Sea. The court ruled that Beijing’s nine-dash line and activities in Philippine waters break international rules.
These clashes hit local fishermen hard right away. Lucio Pitlo III, head of the Philippine Association for Chinese Studies, told The Epoch Times that China’s tactics might scare off Filipino fishers from Scarborough Shoal. While the Philippine government won’t back down easily, he warns, the real pain could come for those relying on fishing for a living.
Beijing isn’t stopping at force—it’s mixing in legal and environmental plays too. Just last week, on September 9, China greenlit a 3,500-hectare nature reserve at Scarborough Shoal, pitching it as a way to safeguard marine life. Former Philippine Navy defense analyst Vincent Kyle Parada calls this “lawfare”—a clever tactic to make China’s presence look like eco-friendly protection while labeling Philippine efforts as the bad guys.
Parada notes the irony: China’s track record in the South China Sea includes harmful actions like unchecked fishing and building artificial islands that wreck the environment. Overall, experts say this strategy endangers nearby communities, ramps up tensions between Manila and Beijing, and tests global legal standards. ()
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