Why Is Philippines Angry With China, Again?


China has declared a self-imposed ban on the South China Sea for fishing, hampering the trade possibilities for Philippines. It now stands that the latter has had to resort to a diplomatic protest against Beijing.

There are also allegations on Chinese coastguards violating Philippine access to the waters and harassment of fishermen. Additionally, the foreign ministry in a statement accused the Chinese vessels of disrupting a joint marine scientific research mission as well as energy exploration activities at two sites in the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

China has been trying ways and means of securing its position on the South China Sea. This new development is going to be tricky for the President-elect Ferdinand Marcos. Indeed, he is going to be facing a delicate balancing act in pursuing stronger economic ties with China while not appearing to capitulate over what the military sees as Beijing's unlawful provocations at sea.

With Marcos coming to power is only going to help Beijing more than anyone else. However, in a public statement, Marcos has said that he intends to prioritize sovereign territory and stand up to Chinese encroachment, in his strongest comments yet on foreign policy. The Philippines has filed hundreds of diplomatic protests against Beijing in recent years for what it considers acts of aggression in the disputed waters, despite improved ties between Beijing and Manila under outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte, whose six-year term ends on June 30.

The Philippines and China have historically had a rocky relationship over Beijing's vast territorial claims and conduct of its coast guard and fishing fleet in the South China Sea, through which at least $2.4 million of sea-borne trade passes each year.

Not just the Philippines, but China has been trying to claim sovereignty over many other neighbouring nations like Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia to name a few.

Meta Data: The new fishing dispute between Beijing and Philippines is going to be tight rope walk for the newly President- elect Ferdinand Marcos who has to balance between favoritism and diplomacy. 

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