It is a conflict that makes less noise than that in Ukraine or Gaza. However, it weighs just as much on international relations, since it implies no less than three important players in the Asia-Pacific zone: China, the Philippines and the United States. Stake ? The Scarborough reef claimed both by the Philippines and China, for its rich fishing areas and its lagoon sheltered in a strategic area.
The conflict has lasted between the two countries since the early 2010s. It experienced a new episode of strong tension, this Wednesday, according to information from the Reuters agency.
A Chinese fighter plane intercepted a Filipino plane carrying a collective of journalists during a flight of patrol over the Scarborough reef, the government of Manila said to the Anglo-Saxon media. This “incident” comes after two Chinese ships collided in the same area when they were trying to block a “Philippine supply” mission.
This Filipino Coast Guard plane and especially journalists on board have seen the Chinese fighter plane get closer to the small turboprop Cessna Caravan. Quickly, the Chinese apparatus approached about 60 meters by maneuvering “aggressively” all around the plane, said Jay Tarriela, spokesperson for the Filipino coast guard.
This is the latest sign of persistent tensions between the two nations in this disputed atoll of the Southern China Sea.
American ships “hunted”
This “interception” lasted 20 minutes, during which radio orders coming from one of the two ships of the Chinese navy which also operated at sea level, insisted on the Filipino plane to “leave immediately”. A video produced by the British media The Times broadcast the tense exchanges between the soldiers of the two countries.
A peak of tension that was not the only one of a slightly crazy day in this corner of the world. On the same day, two American warships – the USS Cincinnati frigate and the Destroyer USS Higgins – were identified at around 30 sea miles (About fifty kilometers) of the reef, also explained the spokesperson for the Philippin Coast Guard.
The Chinese army said it “hunted” the American destroyer after he entered the area without authorization, but Washington challenged the Chinese version assuring that his ships were led to legal navigation operations in the area.
Collision between Chinese ship
Already on Monday, we attended strong tensions on the same area. The Philippines had sent three ships to transport provisions to dozens of Filipino fishermen present in the Atoll. Chinese warships then intervened to lead an attempt that is both “dangerous” and risky aimed at preventing this “prohibited” delivery.
However, the intervention of the Middle Empire did not have the expected effect. The two Chinese ships collided, which seems to be a first between two Chinese ships in the area. Again the images are impressive. One of the two ships seems to have suffered from a big cut in his shell following the hanging.
The Chinese navy did not confirm if crew members had been injured and ignored the supply of medical aid and rescue from Manila after the incident, according to Reuters.
Neither the Chinese Defense Ministry nor its embassy in Manila wanted to comment on the incident, however documented. On Monday, the Chinese coast guard soberly declared having taken “the measures necessary to expel the Philippine Water Ships surrounding the reef”. The tension has not come down since.
