Tit For Tat: Filipino fishermen vow retaliation against Beijing's order to arrest 'tresspassers' in South China Sea

As the Philippines gears up to take legal action against China for alleged environmental destruction in the South China Sea, tensions are rising with Filipino fishermen vowing to retaliate against China’s orders to detain foreign nationals by kidnapping Chinese nationals in the Philippines.

Analysts warn that Beijing is likely to counter with restrictive trade measures and increased harassment of Filipinos.

On Monday, the Philippines accused China of damaging the marine environment around the Scarborough Shoal, a contested maritime area in the West Philippine Sea. National Security Council Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya announced that evidence is being collected to file a case against China for destroying coral reefs and engaging in other illegal activities, such as harvesting endangered giant clams.

Political analyst Edmund Tayao believes the Philippines has a strong case, citing past legal victories over China regarding the South China Sea. “We won the arbitration case before, so we should have a good chance. International public opinion is on our side,” Tayao said.

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The 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration dismissed China’s claims to the South China Sea based on its nine-dash line, a decision Beijing rejected. Despite repeated diplomatic protests from Manila, Beijing has ignored these grievances, prompting the current legal action.

Defense analyst Jose Antonio Custodio noted that Manila’s strategy could internationalize the dispute and increase pressure on China. “There will be tensions, though it’s doubtful it will lead to open conflict. Expect continued Chinese harassment of Philippine vessels and terse diplomatic exchanges,” Custodio stated.

In response to the Chinese coastguard’s recent order to detain foreign nationals for up to 60 days starting June 15, Filipino fishermen, led by Leonardo Cuaresma of New Masinloc, have threatened to abduct 10 Chinese nationals for every Filipino detained. Cuaresma asserted, “We are not afraid of that new policy. If they arrest our fishermen, we will retaliate.”

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Experts agree that China has no legal standing to enforce such detainments. Jennifer Parker from the National Security College at the Australian National University emphasized, “It would be illegal for Beijing to apply such a policy outside its territorial waters. This would be a significant escalation.”

Maritime security analyst Ray Powell highlighted the gravity of the Chinese coastguard’s order. “The international community must make clear that any such detention would be treated as illegal and an outrage against the international order,” Powell said.

As both nations brace for the next steps, the situation remains volatile, with potential repercussions for regional stability and international maritime law.