The United States’ strong condemnation of China’s actions in the South China Sea, particularly in relation to territorial disputes with neighboring countries like the Philippines, underscores the escalating tensions in the region. Commander John Aquilino, representing the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, didn’t mince words when he criticized China’s behavior as “dangerous, illegal, and destabilizing the region” during his address at a think tank in Sydney, Australia.
The South China Sea has been a hotbed of contention, with clashes between China and the Philippines intensifying. Aquilino’s expression of “great concern” over the injury of six Filipino sailors due to Chinese water cannon fire highlights the volatile nature of the situation. Moreover, similar aggressive actions by China in regions like Japan and Malaysia serve as troubling indicators of its unilateral attempts to assert territorial dominance through force.
China’s audacious claim of approximately 90% of the South China Sea, demarcated by its contentious nine-dashed line, remains a sticking point. Despite a landmark ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in 2016, which invalidated China’s expansive sovereignty claims, China has adamantly refused to acknowledge the ruling. Instead, it has escalated tensions further by extending the nine-dashed line to a ten-dashed line, heightening concerns among neighboring countries, particularly the Philippines and Vietnam.
The upcoming U.S.-Japan-Philippines summit is expected to address these pressing issues. President Biden’s emphasis on the applicability of the U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty to areas like the Sierra Madre, deliberately grounded by the Philippines in the Second Thomas Shoal, signals a renewed commitment to regional security. The Philippines’ push for joint patrols with the U.S. in the South China Sea and potential agreements with Japan for troop deployment and training rotations underscore the collaborative efforts to counter China’s aggressive maneuvers.
The joint naval and air force exercise conducted by the United States, Japan, Australia, and the Philippines in the South China Sea serves as a visible demonstration of resolve against China’s expansionist agenda. As tensions continue to simmer, regional players are banding together to safeguard security and ensure freedom of navigation in one of the world’s most strategically significant waterways.