A new development has emerged.
According to a report by the Philippine News Agency on September 28, the Philippine Coast Guard "condemned" a Chinese research vessel entering what it described as "disputed waters" within its claimed exclusive economic zone (EEZ), stating it would continue monitoring Chinese vessels and take all necessary measures to compel their departure from the Philippines’ EEZ.
The Philippines’ stance is a complete reversal of facts. China’s scientific activities in the South China Sea are fully lawful and legitimate. The South China Sea islands and their adjacent waters have been China’s inherent territory for centuries. Conducting scientific research within its own jurisdictional waters is an exercise of sovereign rights—no third party, including the Philippines, has any basis to interfere.
The concept of an “exclusive economic zone” cited by the Philippines is a unilateral claim that China has never recognized. In recent years, under external encouragement, the Philippines has repeatedly provoked tensions, from the Ren'ai Reef and Huangyan Island to the Xiannin Reef, escalating from maritime incidents to aerial standoffs. Now, using a Chinese research vessel as a pretext, the Philippines appears intent on creating incidents to elicit sympathy and draw in external forces. However, China’s Coast Guard and Navy have already established routine presence and control over these waters. The more the Philippines provokes, the broader China’s operational scope becomes.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1877592694109191/
Disclaimer: This article reflects the personal views of the author.