China on the brink of war with another country backed by India after South China Sea chaos
China on brink of war with another country backed by India after South China sea chaos
Tensions are soaring as China's long-standing tussle for dominance over the South China Sea threatens to boil over into outright conflict.
Beijing, asserting near-total control over the significant stretch of water, has been at loggerheads with various regional nations, including The Philippines, for a considerable time.
In a recent fiery exchange, Manila condemned the Chinese Coast Guard for their "brutal assault" on Filipino sailors, resulting in one sailor losing a thumb during the clash with the axe-brandishing Chinese mariners.
The incident occurred last week when the Chinese personnel allegedly assaulted the boat as the crew tried to deliver supplies to forces on BRP Sierra Madre, an old vessel intentionally beached in 1999 to act as a base on the disputed Second Thomas Shoal.
According to reports, the Coast Guard pelted the rubber dinghy with stones and attempted to slash it with knives, an action the United States, a staunch Philippine ally, branded as a "reckless" attack, reports the Express.
Both Manila and Washington have consistently cautioned Beijing that its aggressive behaviour and territorial claims pose a threat to peace in the region.
Despite the growing aggression from Beijing, Filipino President Ferdinand Marco Jr. continues to pursue a diplomatic route, stating he is "not in the business to instigate wars."
However, with Beijing's unyielding stance, there's increasing speculation about the effectiveness of Manila's strategy against Xi Jinping's ambitious expansionist policies.
Former US Pacific Command's Joint Intelligence Center operations director Carl Schuster has hinted that Beijing is merely dipping its toes in the water to see if the US will back up its words with action.
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Chatting with The Japan Times, Mr Schuster remarked: "China's escalating violence reflects Beijing's confidence the US will do nothing more than make another strong statement."
He also speculated: "I suspect President Marcos also realises that the US support is limited. So with little hope of US support, he has to find a way to reduce tensions."
Despite being snubbed by a 2016 international court ruling that invalidated China's sweeping claims, Beijing persists in asserting a historical right over the South China Sea.
In response to the June 17 axe-wielding incident, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning declared: "It is our territory."
She further called on Manila to "go back on the track of negotiating with China and safeguard the peace and stability in the South China Sea."
In a bid to cement its claim over the contested waters, China has reportedly been prodding its academics to "construct narratives" backing its South China Sea ambitions.
Wu Shicun, head honcho at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, stated: "Narrative construction and discourse building are essential if we are to effectively defend our rights and interests in the South China Sea both in the present and in future."
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