How a rusting World War II ship is leading to tensions between China and the Philippines

In the vast expanse of the South China Sea, geopolitical tensions have long simmered among nations vying for control over its strategic waters and resource-rich territories. Countries such as China, the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Brunei Darussalam have been locked in competing claims, each seeking to assert sovereignty over disputed islands and maritime territories.

Recent clashes between the Philippines and China, particularly around the Second Thomas Shoal, have amplified concerns about potential escalation, with Sierra Madre, a relic of World War II, emerging as a focal point of contention.

The complex saga of Sierra Madre

Sierra Madre, a warship with a storied past, measuring 100 feet in length, was built in the United States during World War II (1939-1945) and entered service in 1944 as a landing ship. Following its wartime duties, it was deployed to Vietnam during the US involvement in the Vietnam War (1954-1975). In 1976, as part of an alliance with the US, the ship was transferred to the Philippines.

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However, its most significant chapter unfolded in 1999 when the Philippines intentionally grounded the Sierra Madre on the Second Thomas Shoal, nestled within the Spratly Islands.

This strategic maneuver was a calculated effort to bolster the Philippines’ presence in the region and assert territorial claims amidst escalating tensions with China.

Sierra Madre’s presence on the Second Thomas Shoal serves as a cornerstone in the Philippines’ broader territorial claims within the South China Sea. As China aggressively asserts its dominance in the region, particularly concerning nearby Mischief Reef, the Philippines maintains control over Sierra Madre as a vital outpost.

Any attempt to remove or undermine the vessel could weaken Philippine claims and potentially pave the way for Chinese territorial expansion.

The Spratly Islands dispute

The Spratly Islands, among the most contested territories in the South China Sea, have been a flashpoint for overlapping sovereignty claims among neighboring nations. Rich in oil and gas reserves, as well as abundant fishing grounds, these islands have attracted competing interests and fueled tensions.

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Under former Philippine President Benigno Aquino III, confrontations escalated, culminating in China’s effective control of the Scarborough Shoal in 2012, further exacerbating regional tensions.

In the subsequent year, Xi Jinping took over the presidency of China. During his tenure, China has adopted a more assertive stance on territorial claims and engaged in aggressive posturing. Notably, China has asserted sovereignty over 90% of the South China Sea.

International response and legal framework

In 2016, an international tribunal ruled in favour of the Philippines, denouncing China’s activities in the region as incompatible with international law. Despite this ruling, China adamantly rejected any arbitration, complicating efforts to resolve the dispute peacefully.

Since 2022, during the presidency of Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr, the Philippines has retaliated against Chinese actions in the region. In a recent development, the Philippines summoned China’s deputy chief of mission to address what it deemed as “aggressive actions” by Chinese naval forces against a resupply mission.

The United States, recognising the Philippines as a strategic ally, has voiced support and reaffirmed defense commitments under mutual defense treaties, underscoring the potential for external involvement in the conflict.

In May 2023, the two nations reached a consensus on updated guidelines for a defence treaty originally established in 1951.

It originally said the parties recognised “that an armed attack in the Pacific Area on either of the Parties would be dangerous to its own peace and safety and each party agrees that it will act to meet the common dangers in accordance with its constitutional processes.”

Pentagon said in 2023: “The guidelines reaffirm that an armed attack in the Pacific, including anywhere in the South China Sea, on either of their public vessels, aircraft, or armed forces – which includes their Coast Guards – would invoke mutual defense commitments under Articles IV and V of the 1951 U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty.”

Recent incidents

Recent incidents at Second Thomas Shoal have heightened tensions between China and the Philippines. Analysis of ship-tracking data and videos reveals a pattern of aggressive behavior by Chinese coast guard and militia ships targeting Philippine resupply missions to Sierra Madre, reported the Washington Post.

These confrontations, including the use of water cannons and obstruction of supply missions, underscore the volatile nature of the situation and the potential for escalation.

The escalation of tensions at Second Thomas Shoal raises alarm bells about the risk of conflict in the region. With Sierra Madre serving as a symbolic outpost of Philippine sovereignty, any further aggression from China could provoke a robust response, potentially drawing external powers into the fray.

China has spent the past three decades expanding its presence in the South China Sea, a strategic waterway through which a third of global shipping passes, according to the United Nations.

With inputs from agencies