Context:

According to recent analysis by the Washington Post, Chinese coast guard and militia ships have frequently surrounded and collided with Philippine resupply vessels.

More on News:

• China’s Increased Ship Deployment: China heightened the deployment of its ships and aimed water cannons at Filipino boats during supply missions to the Sierra Madre.

What is the Sierra Madre?

• Landing Ship: It was constructed in the US for World War II (1939-45), commissioned in 1944 as a landing ship and sent to Vietnam during the US participation in the Vietnam War (1954-75). 
  • In 1976, it was transferred to the Philippines, an ally of the US. In 1999, it was left on the Second Thomas Shoal, part of the mostly uninhabited Spratly islands. 
• Philippines’ Strategic Moves: The Philippines, then brought this ship to the Second Thomas Shoal, a submerged reef located in the South China Sea to further its territorial claims. 
  • Since then, the Philippines has sent smaller boats to the ship for repairs, and sending supplies to the crew onboard.
• Mischief Reef Dispute: China laid claims on the nearby Mischief Reef and has since demanded the ship’s removal which the Philippines has rejected. 
• Challenge for Philippines: Today, the ship is largely dilapidated and rusting. However, for the Philippines, its removal would risk weakening its claims over the islands and Chinese presence being established.

Battle over Spratly Islands:

• Overlapping Claims in the South China Sea:  Countries in the region have extended overlapping claims on the South China Sea, claiming ownership over its islands such as the Spratly Islands and the Paracel Islands. 

• • Along with issues over sovereignty, the rich oil and gas reserves in the region and its rich fishing waters have also encouraged countries to lay their claims.
  • China claims nearly 90% of the South China Sea.
• The Hague Tribunal’s Ruling: In 2016, an international tribunal in the Hague ruled in favour of the Philippines citing China’s actions in the dispute.
  •  The Tribunal declared that certain sea areas are within the EEZ of the Philippines because any possible entitlement of China does not overlap those areas”. The tribunal highlighted:
    • China’s construction of artificial islands equipped with helipads caused irreversible damage to the marine environment
    • establishing a significant artificial island within the Philippines’ EEZ
    • It had eliminated evidence of the natural state of features in the South China Sea that were part of the dispute between the parties.
  • China rejected the ruling.

US Response:

• U.S. Support for the Philippines: US voiced its support to the Philippines which is an important strategic ally. 
• U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty, 1951: As per this, an armed attack in the Pacific Area on either of the Parties would be dangerous to its own peace and safety.
  • Moreover,  each party agrees that it will act to meet the common dangers in accordance with its constitutional processes.
  • In May 2023, the two countries agreed on new guidelines under the treaty.
  • US stated that the guidelines reconfirm that a military assault in the Pacific, encompassing the SCS would trigger mutual defense obligations under Articles IV and V of the 1951 U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty.”

Additional reading: South China Sea Dispute