Scarborough Shoal, the triangle-shaped 150 square kilometre grouping of reefs and rocky islets less than 200 nautical miles from their eastern coastline, belongs to the Philippines. It’s within the boundary of an exclusive economic zone and extended continental shelf as outlined by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
But still, in 2012, China attacked the Philippines island and took control of Scarborough Shoal within the Philippines’ EEZ after a months-long standoff involving paramilitary ships.
The Philippines began arbitral proceedings against China at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague.
The court ruled in the Philippines’ favour, concluding that UNCLOS “superseded any historic rights or other sovereign rights or jurisdiction in excess of the limits imposed therein”.
However, imperialist communist China did not accept the verdict of the court of the world community.
The Chinese president, Xi Jinping, said China’s “territorial sovereignty and marine rights” in the seas would not be affected by the ruling, which declared large areas of the sea to be neutral international waters or the exclusive economic zones of other countries.
Chinese state media reacted angrily to the verdict. Xinhua, the country’s official news agency, hit out at what it described as an “ill-founded” ruling that was “naturally null and void”. The Communist party mouthpiece newspaper the People’s Daily said in an editorial that the tribunal had ignored “basic truths” and “trampled” on international laws and norms.
“The Chinese government and the Chinese people firmly oppose [the ruling] and will neither acknowledge it nor accept it,” it added.
But there was no sign of contrition in Beijing.
After referring to the shoal by its Chinese name – Huangyan Island – Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Wang Wenbin issued a warning: “We advise the Philippines not to provoke or stir up trouble.”
In August 2024, the Philippines accused China of “dangerous manoeuvres” after its coast guard sprayed water cannons at Filipino boats trying to resupply those stationed on the Sierra Madre. Earlier this year, it accused China of directing a “military grade laser” at the ships.
