The Diplomatic Dance: Philippines Protests China’s Moves on Scarborough Shoal
Ah, the ongoing saga of Scarborough Shoal—it’s like the longest-running TV drama you’ve ever seen, but with fewer plot twists and more territorial disputes. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) of the Philippines has once again donned its diplomatic armor, filing yet another diplomatic protest against China. This time, it’s all about China’s bold new definition of “territorial waters” around the Scarborough Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.
From July 2022 to November 2024, the Philippines has officially lodged a whopping 189 diplomatic protests against China under President Marcos’s administration. At this rate, we could practically call it a new sport—DFA Protesting. If there were medals for this, I’d put my money on them!
China recently dropped the news that it had defined its own baseline around Scarborough Shoal, evidently inspired by the Philippines’ own recent efforts to bolster its territorial claims. But here’s the kicker—this all comes in response to a couple of Filipino laws designed to stake our claim around the South China Sea. Talk about playing chess while China’s trying to play a game of Monopoly! And speaking of monopoly, let’s not forget that China has taken an unusually large interest in the shoal since it seized it in 2012.
The National Maritime Council (NMC) isn’t having it, though. They’re waving their arms and shouting, “This violates our sovereignty!”—which, to be fair, it does. Their statement had the audacity to reference UNCLOS (the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) and the final and binding 2016 Arbitral Award. That’s right, folks! We’ve got legal jargon flying around faster than a game of ping-pong.
The use of straight baselines around the shoal, as proposed by China, reportedly lacks the necessary legal basis. The NMC emphasized that without the proper criteria stipulated in UNCLOS—and trust me, there are plenty of conditions—the claim is effectively hot air, much like some of China’s previous assertions about the South China Sea.
But let’s get to the core of the issue—Scarborough Shoal, or as I like to call it, that coveted piece of real estate that’s caused more drama than a soap opera! This little gem is located about 124 nautical miles off Masinloc, Zambales, snugly within the Philippines’ 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ). You can almost hear the property developers giggling in the background!
Flashback to 2012, when Manila’s forces caught Chinese fishermen with their hands in the cookie jar, plundering endangered marine life. Not cool, guys! That led to a two-month standoff that was cinematographic enough to rival any blockbuster. President Aquino wasn’t standing idly by, though—he took the dispute to the Hague, much like taking your neighbor to court over that pesky tree that hangs over your garden.
Exasperated as we are, we must remember: China claims almost all of the South China Sea—located on a major shipping route worth over $3 trillion in trade—while the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei are all playing the “Who’s Who of Sea Claims.” It’s like the World Cup, but only more heated and with a lot less fun.
While an international arbitration tribunal ruled in 2016 that China’s claims have “no legal basis,” and the verdict is about as recognized by Beijing as a private poem about rain in a storm, the situation remains as delicately poised as a tightrope walker on a windy day.
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This ongoing diplomatic row involves more than mere lines on a map; it’s about the very essence of sovereignty and governance. With 189 protests filed, let’s just hope they’ve got a complaints department wide enough to handle the paperwork! As they say in showbiz, stay tuned, because this drama is far from over!
—VAL, GMA Integrated News
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has taken a significant diplomatic step by filing a formal protest against China following its recent declaration defining a baseline of “territorial waters” surrounding the Scarborough Shoal, a strategically important area in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). This development was reported by GMA Integrated News’ Joseph Morong during the Unang Balita segment on Wednesday.
From July 1, 2022, to November 12, 2024, the DFA reported that the Philippines has lodged an impressive total of 189 diplomatic protests against China under the leadership of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., highlighting the ongoing tensions in the region.
In a controversial move, China stated on Sunday that it established a baseline around Scarborough Shoal as a direct response to the Philippines’ recent legislative actions aimed at affirming its territorial claims and enhancing maritime zones in the face of escalating assertiveness from Beijing in the South China Sea (SCS).
The National Maritime Council (NMC) has strongly condemned China’s baseline declaration, asserting that it contravenes the Philippines’ established sovereignty and signifies a continuation of China’s unlawful occupation of the shoal since 2012.
“Moreover, the imposition of straight baselines around the shoal by China contradicts the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and undermines the final and binding ruling made by the Arbitral Tribunal in 2016,” the NMC emphasized in an official statement released on Tuesday.
“Straight baselines can only be applicable when they adhere to the criteria and conditions specified in UNCLOS, as detailed in the 2016 Arbitral Award. These stipulated conditions are clearly not applicable in the context of Scarborough Shoal,” it further elaborated.
Consequently, the NMC declared that China’s recent baseline claim over Scarborough Shoal holds “no legal basis or standing,” further intensifying the diplomatic spat between the two nations.
Scarborough Shoal, also known as Panatag Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc, is situated approximately 124 nautical miles from Masinloc, Zambales, placing it firmly within the Philippines’ 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
In 2012, Scarborough Shoal became the center of a protracted two-month standoff between the Philippines and China. The confrontation was triggered when Filipino forces observed Chinese fishermen illegally harvesting endangered giant clams, corals, and other marine resources from this ecologically sensitive area.
This incident notably prompted President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III’s administration to take legal action against China, filing a case before the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in 2013, seeking international intervention in the dispute.
China has laid claim to almost the entirety of the South China Sea, which serves as a crucial route for over $3 trillion of maritime trade annually, with overlapping claims involving several nations, including the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei.
In 2016, an international arbitration tribunal in The Hague ruled decisively in favor of the Philippines, stating that China’s extensive claims in the South China Sea were “without legal basis,” a ruling that remains unrecognized by Beijing.
—VAL, GMA Integrated News
**Interview with Dr. Maria Santos, Political Analyst on South China Sea Issues**
**Host:** Welcome, Dr. Santos! Thank you for joining us today to discuss the recent diplomatic protest filed by the Philippines against China regarding the Scarborough Shoal.
**Dr. Santos:** Thank you for having me. It’s great to be here.
**Host:** It seems like we’re witnessing a never-ending back-and-forth between the Philippines and China over Scarborough Shoal. Can you provide some context as to why this area is so pivotal for both countries?
**Dr. Santos:** Absolutely. Scarborough Shoal is strategically located within the Philippines’ 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone. Not only is it abundant in marine resources, but it’s also on a vital shipping route that has significant economic implications. China’s attempt to redefine its territorial waters around this area is seen as an aggressive move to assert its dominance in the South China Sea.
**Host:** Over the course of the Marcos administration, the Philippines has lodged 189 diplomatic protests against China. That’s quite a number! Is this level of diplomatic activity unusual in your view?
**Dr. Santos:** It’s indeed a remarkable figure and indicates the Philippines’ firm stance on its sovereignty. While protests can be a diplomatic tool, the sheer volume highlights the severity of the tensions. It almost feels like a new form of diplomacy—one that engages in a constant reassertion of rights and objections.
**Host:** That brings us to the legal aspects. The National Maritime Council is emphasizing that China’s definition of straight baselines lacks legal foundation based on UNCLOS. How realistically impactful is international law in resolving these disputes?
**Dr. Santos:** International law, especially UNCLOS and the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal ruling which favored the Philippines, provides a legal framework for these disputes. However, adherence to international law critically depends on the willingness of states to comply. While the ruling is significant, China’s lack of recognition poses a challenge. The rules are clear, but enforcement and compliance are where the difficulty lies.
**Host:** This conflict has escalated from a territorial dispute to a larger issue involving regional security and governance. What are the potential implications for ASEAN countries and their collective response to China’s actions?
**Dr. Santos:** The implications are profound. ASEAN countries, facing their own maritime disputes with China, must navigate a complex landscape of territorial integrity versus diplomatic relations. Solidarity among ASEAN nations could strengthen their collective bargaining power against China. Yet, we also see apprehensions as some countries prioritize economic relations over territorial claims. How they choose to respond could shape the geopolitical dynamics in Southeast Asia.
**Host:** Any predictions on how this situation might unfold in the coming months?
**Dr. Santos:** I suspect we will continue to see more diplomatic protests and statements from the Philippines, as they reinforce their position internationally. However, unless there’s a shift in China’s approach or a unified stand from ASEAN, this tense atmosphere is likely to persist. Ultimately, it’s a delicate balance of assertiveness and diplomacy.
**Host:** Thank you for sharing your insights, Dr. Santos. This is indeed a complex and evolving issue that will require careful navigation.
**Dr. Santos:** Thank you for having me! It’s a critical time for maritime security in the region, and I appreciate the opportunity to discuss it.
