Tensions continued in the West Philippine Sea in 2024 as China maintained its claims over the South China Sea despite the 2016 ruling of The Hague-based international arbitration tribunal favoring the Philippines.
Manila has been exerting efforts to defend its sovereign rights and repel Beijing’s illegal presence and aggressive actions against Philippine personnel and fishers over the disputed territory.
Looking back at the steps the Philippine government has taken for the West Philippine Sea in 2024, how will the developing nation push further its control over the disputed waters against global superpower China in 2025?
Maritime law expert Jay Batongbacal said China has been more aggressive and oppressive in 2024 as he recalled the June 17 incident in Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal where a Filipino soldier lost his thumb in a collision.
“Gumamit sila ng karahasan laban sa ating mga kawal noong ika-17 ng Hunyo. At noong sumunod na buwan ay ipinakita din nila, sa pamamagitan ng pagbabangga ng barko at paggamit ng water cannon, ang kanilang intensyon na agawin sa atin ang ating mga likas-yamang dagat sa ating katubigan,” Batongbacal told GMA News Online.
(They used violence against our troops last June 17. And the following month, they showed, by ramming our ship and using a water cannon, their intention to take from us the resource-rich waters.)
On June 17, Seaman First Class Jeffrey Facundo of the Philippine Navy (PN) lost his thumb after China vessels collided with Philippine boats during a rotation and resupply (RORE) mission to BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) had demanded P60 million in damages from China after its coast guard destroyed some equipment of Philippine Navy personnel.
In response, China Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said that Manila “should face the consequences of its own action,” adding that the Philippine vessels “were carrying out an illegal ‘resupply mission’ which violated China’s territorial waters and staging a provocation when stopped by China Coast Guard.”
PH actions on WPS issue in 2024
National Security Council (NSC) spokesperson Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya said the Philippines countered China’s “illegal, coercive, aggressive, and deceptive (ICAD) actions” through diplomatic, informational, and legal actions as well as through operations on the ground.
“We also utilized effectively the [Bilateral Consultation Mechanism] with the [People’s Republic of China] to produce a preliminary understanding on resupply to Ayungin which has been honored by both sides up to now,” he told GMA News Online.
The Department of Foreign Affairs in July said the Philippines and China have reached an understanding on an arrangement that will avoid altercations in Ayungin Shoal. The two countries in a Bilateral Consultation Mechanism meeting sought to de-escalate the tension in the WPS after the violent June 17 incident.
Following the agreement, no untoward incident was reported during the AFP’s resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal and fewer Chinese vessels were monitored in the West Philippine Sea.
Other areas
However, Batongbacal said China’s aggressive actions just shifted from Ayungin Shoal to other parts of the disputed waters.
“Bagama’t napatahimik natin ang mga pangyayari sa Ayungin Shoal, at napabababa ang tsansa na maulit ang karahasan ng ika-17 ng Hunyo, lumipat ang pagdidiin ng Tsina sa ibang lugar tulad ng Escoda Shoal, Rozul Reef, at Bajo de Masinloc,” Batongbacal said.
(Although we were able to lower the tension at Ayungin Shoal, and decreased the chances of a repeat of the harassment done on June 17, China turned to other areas like Escoda Shoal, Rozul Reef, and Bajo de Masinloc.)
“Malinaw na pinapalaki at pinapalawak ng Tsina ang kanyang puwersa sa Kanlurang Karagatang Pilipino at tinutuloy niya ang pang-aagaw at paninira dito,” he added.
(It is clear that China is expanding its actions in the West Philippine Sea and continues to claim and destroy it.)
Malaya said a transparency initiative was also pushed to expose China’s aggressive actions over the West Philippine Sea.
“On the informational front, we leveled up the transparency initiative to expose to the world the ICAD actions of China and ramped up initiatives to counter foreign malign influence and interference,” Malaya said.
More alliances, new laws for WPS
According to Batongbacal, the Philippine government’s transparency initiative on the West Philippine Sea issue drew more countries to support Manila. Alliances with more counties have been formalized.
“Dahil sa transparency initiative na inumpisahan sa nakaraang taon, nakita ng mundo ang tunay na mukha ng Tsina, at dumami ang mga bansa na nagpunta sa Pilipinas upang mag-alay ng tulong sa iba’t ibang paraan,” he said.
(Because of the transparency initiative started in the past year, the world saw the true face of China, and many more countries went to the Philippines to offer help in many ways.)
“Dumadami ang mga pormal na kaalyado natin sa larangan ng depensa at seguridad; nadagdag sa US at Australia ang Japan, kausap natin ang France at Canada, at mayroong mas malapit na ugnayan tayo sa India, UK, South Korea, Germany, Netherlands,” he added.
(We now have more formal allies in defense and security. Aside from the US and Japan, we talked with France and Canada, and we now have closer ties with India, UK, South Korea, Germany, Netherlands.)
Compared to 2023, the Philippines has been more active and swift in pushing for defense cooperation with other countries, Batongbacal said.
Legislation
On the legal front, meanwhile, Malaya said the Maritime Zones Act and the Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act have been passed this year to enshrine in domestic legislation the country’s maritime rights.
Signed by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. in July, the two new laws are seen to give more teeth to the country’s legal rights over the resource-rich West Philippine Sea.
“The passage of these two priority bills fully demonstrates our commitment as a responsible member of the international community and our advocacy to uphold rules-based international order,” Marcos said.
“In the same breath, these signal our resolve to protect our maritime resources, preserve our rich biodiversity, and ensure that our waters remain a source of life and livelihood for all Filipinos,” he added.
Operations on the ground
The Philippines also intensified its patrols in the WPS conducted by the PN, the Philippine Coast Guard, and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources with the participation of foreign counterparts.
“On the ground or sea, we have ramped up patrols by the PN, BFAR and PCG to fly the flag and enforce international law,” Malaya said.
“We have also conducted joint patrols or MCA with a host of countries for a rules-based international order. This is not an exhaustive list but are some of the highlights that come to mind now,” he added.
Philippine Navy spokesperson for West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said naval units operating under Western Command and Northern Luzon Command conducted more than 300 maritime sovereignty/surveillance patrols, 100 air surveillance flights, and 60 resupply missions.
“These operations were conducted unilaterally by the AFP, bilaterally with our treaty ally and multi-laterally with like-minded nations. Furthermore, these were all within the bounds of domestic and international law, were within the country’s EEZ and were in support to the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal ruling,” Trinidad said.
West Philippine Sea in 2025
Malaya said the Philippine government’s strategy in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) is anchored on asserting international law, the 2016 arbitral ruling, and the maritime zones law, using all instruments of national power.
“So, in 2025 the government will further improve maritime domain awareness, effective presence in the entire West PH Sea especially in the nine occupied features, as well as as effective deterrence through the implementation of the Comprehensive Archipelago Defense Concept and modernization program not only of the Armed Forces of the Philippines but also of the PCG and BFAR,” he said.
“The ultimate aim is to protect the marine environment for all nations and to preserve the livelihood and access of PH fishermen to their traditional fishing grounds,” he added.
Trinidad said there will be no let-up in government efforts for the WPS and vowed that the military will promote freedom of navigation and international law in the coming year.
“For the year 2025, there will be no let-up in our fervor to secure and protect our maritime domain. This will be done not only by the Philippine Navy or the AFP, but we will be doing our role in a whole of government and even a whole of society approach,” he said.
“We will also be a responsible member of the international community of law-abiding nations that support freedom of navigation and international law, and espouse any unilateral attempt to change the status quo,” he added.
For his part, Batongbacal said China will continue its aggressive acts next year.
“Umasa tayo na sa susunod na taon, magpapatuloy ang pressure ng Tsina laban sa atin, at lalo pa siyang magiging maingay at mapang-api, at pipilitin pa rin na magbago ang polisiya ng Pilipinas sa pamamagitan ng kombinasyon ng ‘influence operations’ sa press at social media, pagpalakas ng kanilang propaganda, at pananakot at pagbabanta sa karagatan,” he said.
(We should expect that next year, China’s pressure against us will continue. China will be even more vocal and oppressive, and will push that the Philippines change its policy via a combination of ‘influence operations’ in the press and social media, and strengthening its propaganda, aggressiveness and threat in our waters.)
Batongbacal warned that China may influence the Philippine government through its support for local and national candidates in the upcoming May 2025 elections, threaten Manila with war, and provoke quarrels among Filipinos in 2025.
“Maari din siya humanap ng paraan upang ma-impluwensiyahan ang pamahalaan sa pamamagitan ng pagsuporta sa mga kandidato na kampi sa kanya, mula nasyunal hanggang sa lokal na kandidato,” Batongbacal said.
(China may also look for ways to influence the [Philippine] government by supporting national and local candidates allied with it.)
“Gagamitin din niya ang pananakot ng giyera at pagpapalaganap ng away at hidwaan sa ating publiko at pamahalaan upang maging mas mabait at mapagbigay sa Tsina ang pamahalaan,” he added.
(It will also threaten war and promote rifts among the public and government to make it seem China is kind and generous toward the government.) —KG/RSJ, GMA Integrated News
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