AFTER being exposed for its cyanide fishing, China has restricted access in Scarborough Shoal, amid talks regarding a potential joint exploration for energy in the disputed maritime region.
The move, which tends to show its desire to dominate the West Philippine Sea with force, doesn’t speak well of cooperation.
Satellite images reveal Chinese ships and a floating barrier blocking the entrance to Scarborough Shoal, a rich fishing ground which falls well within the 200-nautical mile Philippine exclusive economic zone.
CHINA GOES PARANOID
According to satellite imagery from April 10 to 11, six Chinese maritime militia vessels were inside the shoal with a long floating barrier stretching across the entrance, while other patrol vessels hovered nearby.
“Six Chinese maritime militia vessels were observed within the shoal, while three others were spotted outside, seemingly obstructing the entrance to BDM (Bajo de Masinloc),” said Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Jay Tarriela.
“According to our assessment in the past, they consistently exhibit suspicion whenever they monitor a group of Filipino fishing boats,” he added.
The presence of the Chinese military in the area has effectively prevented fishermen from conducting their livelihoods for years.
The Philippine Coast Guard previously removed similar barriers placed by China, but each time China retaliates with stronger deployments.
JOINT EXPLORATION
China’s move came as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. welcomed the possibility of a joint exploration for oil and gas with China in the contested zone in light of an energy crisis.
“That’s something we’ve been talking about for a great deal, but territorial disputes are getting in the way of that,” he said.
“That’s something we are exploring. Everything that might be of help, we are certainly pursuing,” the President was quoted as saying.
Prior to Marcos’ assumption to power in 2022, the previous administration hinted at pushing for the same collaboration to deescalate tension in the disputed maritime region.
POISONING THE SEA
Just days before China’s latest physical blockade, Philippine authorities made a serious accusation against Chinese vessels elsewhere in the South China Sea.
The Philippines warned that bottles containing cyanide were seized from Chinese boats near Second Thomas Shoal, a submerged atoll where Filipino forces maintain a presence.
Laboratory tests confirmed the presence of the toxic chemical, which officials say could kill fish and weaken the reef that supports Filipino naval personnel at the shoal.
“We wish to underscore that the use of cyanide in Ayungin Shoal is a form of sabotage that seeks to kill local fish populations, depriving Navy personnel of a vital food source,” said National Security Council spokesperson Cornelio Valencia.
DENIAL, AS USUAL
Beijing’s response was to flatly reject the accusation and call it a “stunt” by the Philippines, insisting that Chinese fishing boats were engaged in “normal fishing.”
“The Philippine side illegally harassed the Chinese fishing boats conducting normal fishing, grabbed the fishermen’s living supplies, and staged this so-called cyanide stunt. There is no credibility whatsoever to their story,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said.
Interestingly, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson’s claim isn’t the first. Since 2016, China has developed a habit of changing the narrative in its favor and rejecting facts when convenient.
ADHERING THE LAW
China’s official statements often contradict both international law and observable facts.
In the case of Scarborough Shoal, the 2016 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague clearly stated that China’s sweeping claims in the South China Sea have no legal basis, which Beijing continues to reject.
Rather than comply with the legal framework it agreed to as a signatory of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, China rejects the tribunal’s jurisdiction and ignores the ruling whenever convenient.
China’s denials extend to accusations of environmental harm, even when Filipino authorities present laboratory evidence of toxins in disputed waters.
This pattern of denial and narrative reversal weakens trust and suggests that China’s words cannot be taken at face value in negotiations.
FRIENDS WITH ENEMY?
However, despite China’s aggressive moves, some Filipino officials remain open to joint ventures with Beijing, entertaining thoughts of collaborating with the same country that not only destroys our waters but also threatens fisherfolk.
The Marcos administration has said it wants to engage China “constructively,” but constructive dialogue must be grounded in mutual respect, not unilateral pressure and de facto occupation.
The idea of a joint expedition seems naive given the reality on the water, where Chinese ships are actively denying Filipinos access to resources they are legally entitled to under international law.
POTENTIAL TRAP
Retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio warned that joint exploration could be a trap.
“Joint development is a trap because joint development means, you go to the website of China, it says joint development means China owns the gas, the oil, all the natural resources,” Carpio said.
“China has sovereign rights. That’s from the point of view of China. So why will we accept that?” he added.
Yet proposals continue to surface among some lawmakers and bureaucrats who believe economic cooperation can proceed without first resolving differences in sovereignty.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III once expressed hope that joint exploration would come to fruition — “Sen. Gregorio Honasan, Panfilo Lacson and I, together with Ed Mañalac, proposed that to PRRD during his early years as President. Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdia was there. They agreed to our proposal, but nothing came out of it.”
THE CLEAR MESSAGE
China’s approach disregards the clear pattern of its behavior: deny, delay, and dominate. If the Philippines agrees to meaningful joint ventures without addressing Chinese aggression first, it risks not only its marine resources but also its bargaining power and national dignity.
The West Philippine Sea is too important to be negotiable in the face of intimidation.
China’s blockade of Scarborough, its alleged poisoning of disputed waters, and its habit of denial do not reflect a partner interested in fair cooperation.
The Philippines must stand firm in defending its sovereign rights and uphold international law before considering deals that could place Filipinos at a disadvantage or, worse, result in lost territory.
Talks with China should not come at the expense of legitimate maritime rights, and certainly not while Chinese ships are on the water preventing Filipinos from fishing and navigating their own waters.
Joint expeditions for energy can wait regardless of the crisis. Respect for the rule of law and Philippine sovereignty should be non-negotiable.