Video shows confrontations between China and Philippines in South China Sea

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China’s determination to assert its disputed sovereignty over the entirety of the vast South China Sea has sparked increasing clashes with its neighbors in recent years, particularly the Philippines. CNN’s Ivan Watson joined the Philippine Coast Guard for two days, the first time foreign journalists have been allowed to embed with the fleet in decades. CNN’s Erin Burnett discusses with Seth Jones, Vice President of the Center for Strategic and International Studies. #CNN #News

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36 thoughts on “Video shows confrontations between China and Philippines in South China Sea”

  11. Unlike the lapdogs of merika, I say kudos to CHINA for standing up to their sovereignty and territorial security. Would be a whole different story if the territory would be called The Philippine Sea, but it's not – look up "history", dearest hostile and arrogant western ingnorants….

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  22. Offering a correct perspective and conducting an accurate assessment of the situation is important. It's crucial to realize that no single country or nation possesses exclusive ownership of an entire sea or ocean, except within the boundaries of their jurisdictional nautical distances from the coastline and Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) as outlined by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). It's worth noting that China voluntarily committed to uphold this principle when it ratified the UNCLOS on December 10, 1982. The designation "South China Sea" does not imply ownership by China. Just as the Gulf of Mexico is not owned by Mexico, the Sea of Japan is not owned byJapan, and the Indian Ocean is not owned by India. These labels serve as directional references on maps primarily for navigation and travel purposes.

    China's current justification of historical claims over almost an entire sea is not only alarming and dangerous but also lacks both logical and legal grounding within the current framework of established international relations or circumstances. Additionally, validating past historical claims over land or water dominions may prompt other nations to assert similar claims over presently occupied territories that are protected by existing international laws, potentially jeopardizing global peace.

    For instance, Turkey would claim territories like Bulgaria, Armenia, Serbia, Bosnia, Lebanon, Jordan…etc. based on historic claims under the Ottoman Empire. And Mongolia could also claim all of China from the historic Mongolian Empire under Kublai Khan. Furthermore, there could be conflicting territorial claims depending on the historical period when such claims are acknowledged—whether during the Medieval period, Renaissance, Early Modern Period, or potentially extending back to the Paleolithic Period. This is why recognizing such historical claims today poses risks within the framework of present international laws, conditions and circumstances.

    Just to emphasize, one of the significant factors leading to the Ukraine war stems from Russian President Vladimir Putin's statement in February 2022 that Ukraine lacks historical grounds for independent statehood, as he claimed modern Ukraine was entirely shaped by Russia. An obvious historical claim by Putin which lacks solid factual basis in historical reality.

    Moreover, granting China or any country the authority to claim almost an entire sea runs counter to established laws like those articulated in the UNCLOS, to which China voluntarily allowed itself to be bound by its principles when it ratified the UNCLOS effectively on June 07, 1996. This reality exposes China’s reputation and character regarding adherence to international laws that governs relations among nations.

    It’s no surprise why China stands alone in its claim, with no global support whatsoever for its assertion over the South China Sea. No country supports China not even from its own strategic partners like Russia, Pakistan or North Korea. These countries may have also surmised about the principle that no single nation could truly claim exclusive ownership of a vast sea or ocean. And this clear zero support for China remains consistent, even if China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, Geng Shuang, emphasized that freedom of navigation will be respected even if China asserts sovereignty over the South China Sea.

    The ongoing patriotic defense by the Philippines to safeguard its EEZ in the West Philippine Sea should genuinely be a global concern. Permitting China's expansive claims could set a precedent for other nations to follow, endangering established maritime practices, decrees, and protocols worldwide. In the words of the Philippine Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, China is transforming the entire South China Sea into its own Lake. This fact alone is truly alarming.

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