Philippines Unyielding: David vs Goliath Battle Escalates in South China Sea

 In a David vs Goliath situation, the Philippines has declared its unwavering commitment to protecting its sovereignty over the disputed Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea. This comes after China's coast guard was accused of using water cannons and aggressive maneuvers to prevent Manila from sending supplies to its troops stationed on the reef.

Jonathan Malaya, a senior Philippine National Security Council (NSC) official, likened the recent incident on August 5 to a battle between David and Goliath, emphasizing that China's increased presence at the shoal will not deter the Philippines.

Malaya firmly stated, "We will never abandon Ayungin Shoal," referring to the local name for Second Thomas Shoal. China has called on Manila to remove its warship from the atoll, which was intentionally grounded in 1999 to assert the Philippines' sovereignty claims.

However, Malaya dismissed China's demand and affirmed that the Philippines will continue to resupply its troops in the grounded vessel as long as necessary. China's Foreign Ministry responded, stating that the Philippines' actions violated China's sovereignty and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.

The Chinese coast guard asserted that it had previously warned Manila not to send ships to the shoal or provide construction materials for repairs. According to China, their response to the recent supply plan was in accordance with the law. The United States also weighed in on the issue, with the US State Department releasing a statement that criticized China's actions and supported the Philippines' position.

The statement condemned China's alleged violation of maritime rights and endorsed the Philippines' behavior, which China strongly opposes. The South China Sea is a heavily contested area, with China claiming sovereignty over nearly the entire region.

However, this claim is rejected internationally, and countries like Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei, Taiwan, and the Philippines also assert their own territorial claims. This latest incident is not the first time that China's coast guard has used water cannons against Philippine vessels.

The Chinese coast guard sprayed water at Manila's boats sent to supply food and water to troops on the grounded warship in November 2021. The Philippine military described China's actions as excessive and detrimental to efforts aimed at building trust between the two nations. The incident underscores the urgent need for a code of conduct in the South China Sea.

Tensions between the Philippines and China have been growing under Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. As a result, Manila has been aligning itself more closely with its traditional ally, the United States. The US has expressed its support for the Philippines, accusing China of threatening regional peace and stability.

Manila has already lodged a complaint with the Chinese Ambassador in the Philippines and summoned the ambassador to convey its concerns. Fortunately, no one was injured during the August 5 incident at the shoal, although one of the two Philippine boats carrying supplies did not complete its mission.

The steadfast commitment of the Philippines in defending its territorial claims in the South China Sea remains resolute despite the challenges posed by China's actions.