A narrative war has begun in the South China Sea, with China claiming a “deliberate ramming” by the Philippines after its own aggressive actions forced a collision on Tuesday. The incident at Scarborough Shoal, which included the use of Chinese water cannons, is being framed by Beijing as an act of Philippine provocation.
The confrontation involved over ten Philippine government ships. China’s Coast Guard used water cannons to block their path, which led to the collision. Despite initiating the forceful encounter, Beijing swiftly released a statement blaming Manila for the “provocative and egregious” event.
This physical clash is the direct result of China’s declaration last week of the area as a “national nature reserve,” a move widely seen as a cynical attempt to assert control. The Philippines, which calls the area Bajo de Masinloc, was already preparing to protest the declaration before the situation at sea deteriorated.
The Scarborough Shoal has long been a symbol of the broader struggle for control in the South China Sea. The waterway is a critical commercial artery and home to rich fishing grounds, making the overlapping territorial claims of China, the Philippines, and others a constant source of regional tension.
Global powers are siding with the Philippines. A prominent US senator described Beijing’s actions as a “coercive effort” to advance its illegal claims. The governments of the UK and Australia have also registered their concern, while Canada delivered a pointed critique of using environmentalism as a tool for territorial acquisition.