An escalating international dispute has arisen among the Philippines, the United States, and China concerning a decaying ship that has been transformed into a significant military outpost in the South China Sea.
Originally grounded deliberately on a small reef within the South China Sea in 1999 by the Philippines, the deteriorated vessel, dating back to the Second World War, now serves as a crucial assertion of the Philippines’ claim over the fiercely contested waters. Despite its dilapidated state, a small contingent of troops remains stationed aboard.
The South China Sea, of strategic importance, is subject to overlapping territorial claims from both China and several Southeast Asian nations, rendering it a potential hotspot for conflicts.
Frictions have intensified during the tenure of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., with the country increasingly accusing China of aggression. Consequently, the Philippines has sought closer ties with the United States, a partner bound by a mutual defense treaty.
In a recent incident, China triggered widespread condemnation from various nations including the Philippines, the US, the EU, France, Japan, and Australia when its coastguard employed water cannons against a Philippine coastguard vessel. The Philippine vessel was attempting to deliver essential supplies such as food, water, and fuel to the troops stationed aboard the BRP Sierra Madre, the stranded ship located at Second Thomas Shoal within the Spratly Islands.
In response, China has reiterated its demand for the removal of the deteriorated vessel. Furthermore, China’s embassy in Manila has accused the United States of encouraging and endorsing the Philippines’ efforts to fortify and enhance the BRP Sierra Madre. China alleges that the US is fomenting tensions and sensationalizing the South China Sea dispute through its alliances.
The Chinese embassy emphasized, “The South China Sea is not a playground for external nations to interfere with, sow discord, and instigate conflicts.”
China’s foreign ministry also accused the United States of employing its mutual defense treaty with the Philippines as a means of threatening China.
A spokesperson from the ministry declared, “While the US has overtly supported the Philippines, encroaching on China’s sovereignty, these actions will prove futile.”
Despite not being a direct claimant in the territorial dispute, the United States considers the South China Sea integral to its national interests and has an established mutual defense treaty with the Philippines.