Philippines ‘wargaming’ Chinese hostilities as South China Sea stand-offs intensify
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A Chinese coast guard ship uses a water cannon against a Filipino resupply vessel heading towards the disputed Second Thomas Shoal.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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MANILA – The Philippines is contingency planning for an escalation of hostilities in the South China Sea, according to a senior military official, including a scenario where crew repel Chinese forces attempting to board Philippine vessels.
Ties between the two countries have deteriorated in 2023 after several collisions and repeated stand-offs
The Philippines has taken a tougher line with China, coinciding with its boosting of military ties with defence treaty ally the United States, as well as increased security engagement with other Western powers.
“Expect more coercive actions from China, short of armed attack,” Rear-Admiral Alberto Carlos, chief of the Philippines’ Western Command, told CNN Philippines late on Dec 13.
“Next, after the water cannon is probably ramming, and also they will attempt to board our vessel, which is something that we will not allow them to do.”
That scenario, Rear-Adm Carlos said, was part of the Philippines’ war games exercises and academic discussions on what other actions China might take.
The Philippines on Dec 12 summoned China’s ambassador to protest “back-to-back harassments” during the weekend in different locations, including collisions and use of water cannons
Beijing has repeatedly accused Philippine vessels operating in Manila’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of trespassing in Chinese waters.
The Philippines has grown increasingly wary of China’s coast guard and the presence of hundreds of Chinese fishing boats that it considers to be militia forces.
“We’re brainstorming this. We are wargaming this, and we are prepared for any contingency that will happen,” said Rear-Adm Carlos.
China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, a conduit for more than US$3 trillion (S$4 trillion) of annual ship-borne commerce.
Those claims, which an arbitral tribunal has declared baseless, extend to the EEZs of the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. REUTERS
