In a significant escalation of tensions in the South China Sea, the Philippines enacted the Maritime Zones Act and the Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act on November 11, 2024. These laws aim to clarify maritime routes and facilitate safe passage for international shipping, as emphasized by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. [54ddd764]. Philippine coastguard chief Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan has warned that these new regulations may create 'stresses' for foreign vessels as they adjust to the updated maritime routes [54ddd764].
The enactment of these laws has drawn fierce condemnation from China, which claims they infringe on its sovereignty. The Chinese foreign ministry has reiterated its stance that the Scarborough Shoal, referred to as Huangyan Island by China, is an integral part of its territory [9ce60831]. In a show of diplomatic protest, China summoned the Philippine ambassador to express its objections to the new legislation [54ddd764].
On December 4, 2024, tensions escalated further when four Philippine Coast Guard vessels were blocked by the Chinese coastguard near Scarborough Shoal. The vessels, numbered 9701, 4409, 3002, and 3003, were conducting a routine maritime patrol to support local fishermen when they encountered aggressive actions from Chinese vessels, including the use of water cannons and dangerous maneuvers by the PLA Navy [124ec996]. This incident follows China's recent announcement of geographic coordinates for 16 base points around Scarborough Shoal, further asserting its claims in the region [9ce60831].
The Philippine vessels' patrol coincides with China's submission of geographic coordinates and nautical charts for Scarborough Shoal to the United Nations, an action seen as an attempt to solidify China's claims under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) [f0a9c5c0]. The Philippines won an arbitration case in 2016 against China's claims, which China rejected, stating that Scarborough Shoal qualifies as a rock entitled only to a territorial sea [f0a9c5c0].
In the context of these developments, the BRP Teresa Magbanua, a 2,600-tonne Philippine coastguard ship, has faced confrontations with Chinese vessels at Sabina Shoal. Recently, it was rammed by a Chinese Coast Guard ship, resulting in significant damage [ded66885]. The presence of Chinese navy tugboats near the BRP Teresa Magbanua raises concerns about potential attempts to tow the vessel, which could further escalate tensions and invoke the mutual defense treaty between the United States and the Philippines [ded66885].
Adding to the rising tensions, on November 28, 2024, China's military announced increased patrols around Scarborough Shoal. The People's Liberation Army (PLA) Southern Theatre Command conducted 'combat-ready vigilance patrols' in the area, asserting control over the territorial waters of Huangyan Island [5d4e16fd]. This escalation follows China's declaration of territorial baselines around the shoal earlier in November and the U.S.'s deployment of a special task force to support the Philippines [5d4e16fd]. Scarborough Shoal, claimed by both China and the Philippines, has been a point of contention since China took de facto control in 2012. Tensions have increased since Ferdinand Marcos Jr. became President in 2022, with frequent confrontations reported [5d4e16fd].
As the situation continues to evolve, experts warn that the incoming Trump administration may challenge China's straight baselines as overreach, further complicating the already tense maritime disputes [f0a9c5c0]. The implications of the new Philippine laws and China's aggressive stance will be critical in shaping the future of maritime security in the South China Sea, where the Philippines is determined to assert its sovereignty against increasing Chinese aggression [3d640c28].