2020-04-23 | by Rommel Banlaoi / SCSPI

While most countries are struggling to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic and have focused their efforts internally by enforcing national lockdowns and community quarantine measures, China is getting global attention because of most recent incidents in the South China Sea.

One major incident was the encounter between a China Coast Guard ship and a Vietnamese fishing vessel near the Paracel Islands on 2 April 2020.  Since the incident led to the sinking of the Vietnamese boat carrying eight fishermen, the Vietnamese foreign ministry issued a strong statement protesting against China for committing an act that “violated Vietnam’s sovereignty” and “threatened the lives and damaged the property and legitimate interests of Vietnamese fishermen.” 

Despite being friendly to China under the leadership of President Rodrigo Duterte, the Philippines expressed deep concerns over the China-Vietnam incident and stressed that such incidents could undermine trust building in the region now seriously suffering from the pandemic.  The Philippines also filed diplomatic protests against China on 22 April 2020 for including parts of the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) in one of the districts of Sansha City of Hainan Province and for the incident on mid-February 2020 where a Chinese navy ship pointed its fire control radar at a Philippine navy ship conducting routine patrol at the Commodore Reef.  

Before these incidents, the United States protested against China’s naval exercises in late March 2020 in areas in the South China Sea where American warships conducted their freedom of navigation operations (FONOPs).  The United States also supported Vietnam’s protest against China and urged Beijing to focus on supporting international efforts to combat the COVID-19 and to “stop exploiting the distraction or vulnerability of other states to expand its unlawful claims in the South China Sea.”

Is China taking advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic to strengthen its foothold in the South China Sea?

At the surface, China may appear doing so as its recent actions occur at a time where most countries are preoccupied with the pandemic problem. Read more…