The Philippines halted a scientific survey in the contentious South China Sea after facing "dangerous" harassment from Chinese naval and coast guard vessels, along with aircraft. The incident unfolded on January 24, 2025, near Thitu island, part of the disputed Spratlys chain, as tensions continue to simmer over territorial claims in the region.
The confrontation involved three Chinese coast guard vessels and four smaller boats executing "aggressive maneuvers" against two ships from the Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and their inflatable boats. These events forced the Philippine Coast Guard and fisheries agency to suspend their planned survey operations, which aimed to gather sand samples from unoccupied sandbars off Thitu.
A Chinese navy helicopter further escalated the situation by hovering at an unsafe altitude above the Philippine inflatable boats, creating perilous conditions due to the propeller wash. Despite the "dangerous confrontations," no accidents were reported, as confirmed by the coast guard.
"Creating hazardous conditions due to the propeller wash" – Manila's coast guard
The Philippines has grounded a vessel on a reef near Thitu as a strategic move to assert its sovereignty over the area. Meanwhile, China continues to assert claims over nearly all of the South China Sea, dismissing rival claims from other nations, including the Philippines. This stance persists despite an international arbitration tribunal ruling that China's claims lack legal foundation.
In recent months, China has intensified its presence in the region by deploying navy and coast guard vessels to obstruct Filipino access to key reefs and islands. On the same day as the incident near Thitu, Manila successfully resupplied and rotated troops stationed on a derelict navy vessel at Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratlys without incident.
Thitu island is situated approximately 430 kilometers from the major Philippine island of Palawan and over 900 kilometers from China's nearest major landmass of Hainan Island. The Philippine government has recently expressed concern over Chinese coast guard ships patrolling closer to Luzon, describing it as an "intimidation tactic" by Beijing aimed at deterring Filipino fishing activities.
Chinese forces maintain a garrison at Subi Reef, close to Thitu, further complicating the already tense situation. As regional tensions persist, both nations remain locked in a struggle for control and influence over these strategic waters.
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