Chinese, Philippine Coast Guards Trade Barbs Over Who Is to Blame for Latest South China Sea Confrontation

Drone footage shot by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) that shows a Chinese Coast Guard vessel blocking one of its vessels while it patroled near the disputed Scarborough Shoal. Video via the PCG.

Chinese and Philippines officials are furiously trying to shape the narrative over a confrontation between their Coast Guards that took place last week near the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea.

This latest incident occurred on Friday when a Philippine Coast Guard, the BRP Teresa Magbanua, was on its way back from a nine-day maritime patrol near Scarborough Shoal, known in the Philippines as Bajo De Masinloc.

Four China Coast Guard ships intercepted the Teresa Magbanua to prevent its passage through the area China calls Huangyan Island.

Since Friday’s confrontation, a tussle ensued online. Each side sought to blame the other for what happened and exchanged accusations of violating territorial sovereignty.

  • WHAT THE PHILIPPINES SAID: China violated international rules to prevent maritime collisions during the Philippine Coast Guard’s nine-day patrol in Bajo de Masinloc, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Jay Tarriela said on Monday. (INQUIRER)
  • WHAT CHINA SAID: The China Coast Guard (CCG) successfully expelled the PCG vessel from “illegally trespassing” into China’s territorial waters near Huangyan Island. The situation, according to CCG spokesperson Gan Yu, “was handled professionally.” (CGTN)

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? The incident itself was not that significant. The ships did not collide. There were no injuries. What’s important here is how the real battle between these two countries is taking place in the narrative space, with each side working very hard to sway public opinion, both domestic and international, to accept their version of events.

With every incident, it seems, the rhetoric from each side hardens and becomes a little more vitriolic. This only intensifies a showdown that, at least for now, neither side appears willing to de-escalate.

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