MANILA (Askume) – Relations between Manila and Beijing have soured under Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, with Manila leaning toward the United States to support the Southeast Asian country in its maritime dispute with China.
Here is a timeline of major events this year that escalated tensions between the Philippines and China:
January 3 – The Philippines and the United States launch a ceasefire in the South China SeaThe second joint patrol was conducted, while China deployed its navy and air force to conduct similar activities in the disputed waterway .
On March 5, the Philippines accused the coast guard of “reckless” and “illegal” behavior that resulted in a collision between Chinese and Philippine vessels, causing damage to the other side’s ship and injuring some crew members. The incident occurred during a mission to resupply troops at Second Thomas Shoal. China says the Philippine vessels have illegally intruded into waters near Scarborough Shoal.
20 March – China says the United States should refrain from “making waves” or taking sides on the South China Sea issue . Earlier, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the security agreement with the Philippines also provides for attacks on the Philippine Coast Guard.
24 March – The Chinese coast guard said it had taken action against a Philippine ship conducting a supply mission at Second Thomas Shoal. The Philippines condemned the move, which included the use of water cannon that damaged its ships and injured its crew. It described it as “irresponsible and provocative”.
On April 7, the national defense forces of the United States, Japan, and Australia conducted “maritime cooperation activities” in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea .
April 11 – As part of a joint military exercise with the Philippines, the US military has deployed the land-based “Typhon” missile system. This is the first time that the United States has deployed a medium-range capability in the Indo-Pacific region.
On April 16, the Philippines deployed the coast guard patrol ship Teresa Magbanua to Sabina Shoal to monitor China’s small-scale land occupation activities. However, China has denied the allegation.
April 30 – The Philippines accused the Chinese coast guard of damaging and harassing two Philippine ships in disputed waters in the South China Sea . It also rejected Chinese claims that the ships were moved away from the disputed Scarborough Shoal.
May 10 – The Philippines’ National Security Adviser calls for the expulsion of Chinese diplomats for allegedly leaking the contents of a phone call with a senior Philippine Navy official .
May 15 – A Philippine civilian fleet sails to the Scarborough coast to assert Manila’s maritime rights and deliver supplies to fishermen anchored off the disputed coast.
May 20 – The Philippines challenges China to open the Scarborough Shoal to independent third parties, accusing Beijing of destroying the island’s marine environment .
22 May – A Philippine Navy admiral accused the Chinese embassy in Manila of recording phone calls without his consent and ruled out any deal with Beijing to ease tensions in the South China Sea.
June 15 – The Philippines proposes its claim to the extension of the continental shelf in the South China Sea before the United Nations .
17 June – The Philippine military said a Philippine sailor lost his finger after a “deliberate high-speed collision” by the Chinese coast guard to disrupt a supply mission of troops stationed at Second Thomas Shoal. China disputed Manila’s statement, saying the necessary steps taken were legal and professional.
July 2 – At the High-Level Dialogue on South China Sea Dispute Management hosted by Manila, the Philippines and China agreed to “restore trust” and “rebuild confidence” to better handle maritime disputes.
July 8 – The Philippines and Japan sign a landmark military agreement that allows the two countries to deploy troops in each other’s territory amid China’s increasingly aggressive stance in the region.
July 17 – The Philippines and China agree to establish new communication lines to handle maritime disputes .
July 22 – Philippines and China“Temporary arrangements” were agreed to send a supply mission to the Philippine warship stranded on the beach of Second Thomas Shoal.
July 27 – The Philippines completes resupply operations for its troops along the disputed South China Sea coast, the first such operation under a new arrangement aimed at easing tensions with China .
30 July – United StatesThe pledge of $500 million in funding for the Philippine military and coast guard is a major support for Manila in countering China’s actions in the South China Sea.
August 2 – The Philippines and Japan conduct their first joint military exercise in the South China Sea .
August 9 – The Philippines and Vietnam, which are at loggerheads with Beijing over the South China Sea, hold their first joint coast guard exercise.
August 10 – PhilippinesThe Chinese Air Force was accused of throwing flares and conducting “dangerous exercises” in the path of Philippine Air Force planes on routine patrol of Scarborough Shoal.
AU6 19 – Philippines and China accuse each other of hitting ships and conducting dangerous exercises off the Sabina coast.
24 August – The Philippines calls on Beijing to “immediately cease all provocative and dangerous actions”. It accused Beijing of “inappropriately” deploying flares near the Chinese-occupied Subi Reef during an aircraft patrol over Manila on 22 August.
August 25 – A clash occurred between the Philippines and China near Sabina Shoal during a resupply mission by Manila fishermen .
August 27 – The top US admiral said American ships could escort Philippine vessels on resupply missions in the South China Sea , but the option would require negotiations among the treaty allies.
August 31 – Philippines and ChinaChina has been accused of deliberately ramming coast guard vessels near Sabina Shoal, the fifth maritime collision in a month.
September 12 – The Philippines says it will stick to its position on the Sabina Shoal issue , but will also seek ways to reduce tensions in the area while holding “candid” talks with China to resolve the dispute.
