Philippines: China Expanding Reclamation Work

Two weeks ago, Philippine officials declared that China had begun the process of greater reclamation work in the disputed West Philippine Sea, part of the notorious South China Sea. In response, the Philippines has released a joint statement with the U.S. calling for China to express restraint and to abide by international law.  

Endless Claims

The South China Sea has overlapping claims by virtually every country in the South and Southeast Asian Region. As a result, it has become a political and military hot bed for territorial disputes. The Philippines shares disputed claims with Vietnam, Taiwan, Brunei, Malaysia and China. However, in terms of the West Philippine Sea claims, China has become Philippine’s greatest competitor.

The West Philippine Sea, only a small sliver of the South China Sea, is critical for the Philippines due to economic and national security purposes. The sea not only provides a majority of the maritime country’s gas and oil, but can also fuel the country for the next 20 years. To date, it has produced over 20 million barrels of oil and 20% of the country’s fish supply. Without the sea, the island country would be subjected to a harsh economic downturn.

Additionally, from a national security standpoint, the West Philippine Sea is essential to making sure that the Philippine has an adequate buffer zone from invaders. In World War II, Japan used an island in the Spratlys to stage a strategic attack against the Philippines. As a result, the Philippines has strived to maintain its ownership of any islands, particularly the Kalayaan Island Group, in the West Philippine Sea to prevent such a scenario from ever occurring again.

A Blockaded Future

Reports of China’s increasingly aggressive behavior has led the Philippines to believe that by next year, China will be able to increase blockades in the disputed territories.

China currently claims the majority of the West Philippine Sea with its nine-dashed line. While the nine-dashed line has existed since the 1940s, it was not until recently that China began building bases in the area--hardening its claims over the South China Sea.

According to military historian Jose Antonio Custodio, “The bases are being constructed very fast, done rapidly, that it’s estimated that they would be operational by next year.”

Custodia says that China’s increasing airfield and naval facilities will allow the 1.4 billion people strong country to execute more blockades in the South China Sea region, which would inevitably lead to escalating tensions and possibly, military conflict.

In 2012, the Philippines lost Scarborough Shoal to Chinese forces. In 2014, the BRP Sierra Madre, a Philippine ship, was forced to stay at its garrison for five months before narrowly escaping from a Chinese blockade. If China is able to increase its bases in the territory, it will reinforce China’s claims over the West Philippines Sea.

China: We’re Not Bullies

Yet, China has denied all allegations reported by the Philippines government following a U.S.-Philippine joint statement, which implied that China was wrongfully using its economic and military influence to bully its smaller neighbors.

“China always maintains that all countries, regardless of the size, are equal. We are against the bullying of small countries by big countries,” Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying stated in a recent press conference. She added, “Countries that are not a party to the disputes shall upold an objective and fair position,”referring to the US involvement with the South China sea disputes.

With neither country backing down, the Philippines has taken the matter to the UN Permanent Court of Arbitration. Unfortunately, the case is still pending and will take several years before either country reaches a resolution.

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