Skip to content

Lessons from Scarborough shoal standoff

This rock is ours!

Adverse weather situation provided a face-saving exit for both the Philippines and China in the more than two-month standoff over Scarborough shoal, also referred to as Panatag shoal or Bajo de Masinloc by Filipinos and Huangyan island by the Chinese.

President Aquino said there would be no need to send back Philippine ships to Scarborough shoal if no vessel from other countries would be seen during aerial reconnaissance that the Philippine Air Force would be regularly doing.

But before that, careful not to be seen as the one who blinked first, Filipino and Chinese officials issued statements that were both conciliatory and contradictory.

The confusing statements were actually directed to their respective domestic audiences, agitated by nationalist rhetorics the governments also encouraged.

Last June 16, Department of Foreign Affairs issued a statement by Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario announcing that “President Aquino ordered both our ships (Philippine Coast Guard and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources) to return to port due to increasing bad weather. When weather improves, a re-evaluation will be made.”

At that time, typhoon “Butchoy” was heading towards the Philippines making the situation at sea extremely rough. Experienced seafarers attest that half a day in rough seas would cause even the most sturdy headaches and nausea.

China, which had announced a fishing ban mid-May having anticipated the big waves and the rains that come with the Southwest monsoon at this time of the year, issued a statement welcoming the Manila’s announced pull out: “We have noticed the withdrawal of government vessels by Philippine side. We hope this action will help ease the tensions,” said Zhang Hua, spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in Manila.

There was no public announcement of an immediate reciprocal action from China. Behind the scenes, however, China told the Philippines that they were withdrawing two of their eight vessels in the area within 24 hours, which will be followed by two more the next day and more on the succeeding days until all their vessels are withdrawn.

Two days later, China announced that they were sending two ships to assist the more than 20 fishing boats in the disputed area that would be withdrawing because of bad weather.

A glitz occurred in the otherwise positive turn-of- events when DFA spokesman Raul Hernandez said that China’s announcement of a pullout was “consistent with our agreement with the Chinese government on withdrawal of all vessels from the shoal’s lagoon to defuse the tensions in the area.”

Chinese leadership, who had to deal with the hardline elements of their military, didn’t appreciate DFA’s statement which could give the impression that they were compromising their territorial claim.

Hong Mei, spokesperson of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs , expressed ignorance of the “agreement” Hernandez mentioned.

Hong advised “Philippine side” to “restrain their words and behavior and do workings conducive to the development of the bilateral relations” between the two countries.

Rather than focus on salvaging its pride, DFA should learn the wisdom shared by an Italian diplomat assigned in China, Daniele Vare: “Diplomacy is the art of letting someone else have your way.”

The two-month standoff started last April 10 when Philippine Navy’s BRP Gregorio del Pilar, the country’s lone modern naval patrol frigate acquired from the US last year, chanced upon eight Chinese fishing vessels in the Scarborough shoal while on its way to Northern Luzon as part of the contingency measures for North Korea’s rocket launch.

China, which also claims ownership of Scarborough shoal, sent its Marine Surveillance ships to prevent the arrest of their fishermen.

BRP Gregorio del Pilar had to immediately withdraw from the disputed shoal in accordance with the government policy of “white to white, gray to gray.” “White to white” means civilian ships are to deal only with civilian ships, in this case the Philippine Coast Guard to the Chinese Marine Surveillance. “Gray to gray” means navy to navy.

The incident, which was not actually new according to Philippine Navy logbooks, was raised to the highest level on the Philippine side with President Aquino himself issuing statements asserting the country’s sovereignty over the shoal 124 nautical miles off Zambales province.

All throughout the verbal fireworks, the highest Chinese official issuing statements was the spokesman of the foreign ministry. No statement was ever attributed to President Hu Jintao or Premier Wen Jiabao. Not even to its foreign minister, Yang Jiechi.

That’s something that Aquino and Del Rosario should take note of.

The standoff had hreatened to spill over to trade and tourism when China tightened the regulation on banana imports from the Philippines and several Chinese tour groups cancelled visits to the Philippines.

Discussions of Philippine and Chinese officials clarified that Filipino exporters were not exactly blameless for sending insect-infested bananas to China.

Tour cancellations were caused by tour groups getting nervous seeing demonstrators in front of Chinese embassies in Manila and the United states denouncing China’s “bullying” of the Philippines. The rallies have stopped and Chinese tourists are seen again in Boracay and other resorts in the country.

The tension in Scarborough shoal has, in the meantime, abated. But there’s no assurance that China will not return and attempt to fortify its claim just like what it did in Mischief Reef in the Spratlys.

But the Scarborough shoal standoff has shown that there’s no gain for both countries going to war over those unhabitable rocks.

Even if the overlapping territorial claims in the South China Sea is a core issue for China, it has more important concerns to attend to now than taking on a small country like the Philippines. Concerned about its international image, China does not want to be seen as a bully.

The Philippines, knowing that it cannot fight military and economic giant China, needs to resort to other mechanisms to protect its territorial integrity.

Del Rosario raised again the idea of bringing the issue to the United Nations International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea, a conflict mechanism that China has ruled out preferring to deal with the issue bilaterally.

The Philippines continues to “study” that option fully aware that it’s an ace or resource more effective kept in reserve rather than used.

Published inForeign AffairsSouth China Sea

299 Comments

  1. J J

    Ellen, are you saying that there really was an agreement with China to pull out (and that DFA spoiled the agreement by announcing it)? That’s a surprise. Are you saying that the Chinese will withdraw soon?

  2. Aksidente o sinadya?

    Iniulat kahapon ni Office of Civil Defense (OCD) chief Benito Ramos na isang lokal na bangkang pangisda na may sakay na walong kababayang mangingisda ang aksidente umanong nasagi ng isang Chinese vessel sa bahagi ng Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal. http://abante.com.ph/issue/jun2512/news01.htm

  3. Joeseg,

    I think the location of the encounter has to be verified.

    One report I saw said “north of Panatag shoal.” That means it’s not in the area of Panatag shoal.

    Minsan kasi hindi accurate ang reporting. Which is very important when you are reporting about foreign relations matters.

  4. J, as far as I know, they have withdrawn.

    Has the aerial reconnaissance that the Air Force has been conducting reported a return of the Chinese vessels in the Panatag area? I haven’t heard there was.

    Now, the Chinese may be in the area not far from Scarborough shoal, which could be international waters. There is no reason for the Philippines to complain if they stay there. Marami silang barko, kayang-kaya nila magbabad doon.Which we can’t do without sacrificing other needs for our Coast Guard and BFAR ships.

    You also have to bear in mind that under international law allows seeking of shelter in case of bad weather by foreign seafarers in another country.

  5. Statement from DFA received just now (9:35 a.m.):

    Here is a statement from Sec. Albert del Rosario on Bajo de Masinloc: ”Based on coordination with the Phils. and China, as of two days ago, we have received information that all boats have left the lagoon in Bajo de Masinloc. There are no longer any boats from either the Phils. or China INSIDE the shoal.” Tnx. Raul H. – DFA

  6. dan1067 dan1067

    Think of it! It’s not just bullying but may foul play na dito. Sinusubukan na tayong “kaldagin” ng mga tsekwa at may casualty na isang buhay ng pinoy. Hindi na ako magtataka kung magpilit bumalik si capt Faeldon sa Panatag para itindig ang bandila ng Pilipinas.

  7. Let us look at the issue on a macro level.

    What are the current economic and political events that affect China’s diplomacy and keeping it’s image as the “next” superpower?

    First, China’s economic overheating and slowdown is showing cracks on its sociopolitical armor that soon, a population unsettled with its future may find itself in situations that starting from pockets of rallies, may induce social strife, worse may lead into chaos, what with its billions of people suddenly threatened with the global curse of lost jobs and opportunities. The signs are very apparent:

    -an Arab spring where new democracies are preoccupied with restoring their governance machinery and focused on earning the confidence of its impatient constituents;

    -a looming meltdown of the European Union triggered by unending economic failures and tiring and resource-wrenching bailouts that donor countries’ own economies are getting strained

    -a prolonged delay in the US’ turnaround, recovery, and stability

    -a growing challenge to it’s manufacturing industries by its neighbors in East Asia, Southeast Asia, India and in Brazil.

    All these contribute to a contracting market that it has to reassure its citizens and foreign capitalists that the days of plenty are not yet over.

    Next, China is preparing for its handover to a new leader from the politburo, this event overshadows all events for this year which happens in November. A citizenry that is eager to break out from its repressive leaders after tasting recent economic empowerment and personal riches never before experience under the communist system, prodded by foreign interventionists may just find the right timing. The people may shun tradition especially when it comes to choosing its future leader in a process recently scandalized by the murder of a British businessman attributed to a successor-candidate who is a senior member of the politburo and his wife. As things stand, a miscalculation in Beijing may lead to its spiral downfall.

    Beijing cannot risk getting the ire of its loyal generals whose support is critical in this turnover. No diplomatic faux pas from their side, therefore, will be acceptable at this time, including the irritant issues surrounding Spratlys and Scarborough. That is what the foreign ministry spokesman is actually saying – less talk, less mistakes.

    I’d also like to reiterate Ellen’s point that Aquino and Del Rosario should take note of that. The efficient and deliberate layering of official announcements as to our policy on the ongoing conflict should follow China’s lead because our top officials, Aquino included, should refrain from declaring in media statements they wished they hadn’t have said themselves in a moment of unguarded passion. We are not the US whose presidents deliberately taunt their rival countries in the guise of a microphone sound check yet be candid about it while simultaneously officially ordering its military to actually carry what seemed to be a statement in jest.

    These are matters which hug the Chinese leadership to date, and unless we are truly suicidal maniacs, we should leave matters of diplomacy and foreign policy to academia and the experienced and leave our hot-headed gaming killer instincts where they belong – at home.

  8. There are other factors in play – like dwindling source and supply of raw materials, energy, and environmental issues, not to mention America’s shift of it’s naval behemoth around China especially in the Pacific are all headaches to an international image China is trying to build up and portray and tiny irritants like Vietnam and the Philippines calling them “BULLIES” in the international community is hurting them, trust me.

    I would have discussed that too but it would have made my comment dissertation-like in length, hehe.

  9. Dan, actually, Pinas nag naunang “nang-kaldag” ng barkong intsik diyan din sa Spratlys. Although lumubog din ang barko, di ko alam kung may namatay na Intsik. Cool lang. Hahanapin ko ang kuwento. Pero alam ko, alam ni Sen. Sonny Trillanes o kahit ni (nawawalang) Sulbatz yung kwento.

  10. Napanood ko yung “Sigalot” ni Cheche Lazaro sa ANC nung Sunday. Sabi nung isang mangingisda sa Palauig, ang biyahe sa bangkang de-motor papunta sa “Iskalboro” ay 12 horas. Anim na oras sa tahimik na dagat, apat na oras na maalon, tapos ay dalawang oras pang muling tahimik na dagat. Hindi mo raw maiikot ang Scarborough ng anim na oras. Malaki pala. Sabi niya kahit sampung bangka ang naroroon, wala lang pakialaman dahil malaki naman ang pwedeng pangisdaan. Halu-halo sila doon, mga Taga-Navotas, taga-Masinloc, taga-Hong Kong. taga-China.

    Yung mga intsik, ang kinukuha yung malalaking taklobo na kailangang hukayin pa sa ilalim ng mga corals, pati na mga aquarium fish, sea urchins, sea cucumber, at saka isinasakay yung mga tinanggal na corals pag pauwi na. Silang mga Pinoy, namamana ng mga isdang pwedeng kainin samantalang ang target talaga ay yung mga aquarium fish na isinusupot sa plastik na binobombahan ng compressed air.

    Malaking negosyo ang exotic fish kesa sa pangkain na isda kung ang gamit mo ay de-katig na bangka lang.

  11. Jake Las Pinas Jake Las Pinas

    Ang nabasa ko doon sa isang report ay naka ankla sila sa isang payaw. Sino ang may ari ng payaw? May unwritten law dyan. Babangain ka ng may ari ng payaw kung kinukuha mo yung mga isda doon. Kung ikaw ay isang subsistence fisherman na gumagamit ng hook and line lang, baka hindi ka na pansinin pero kung ikaw ay isang basnig babangain ka ng may ari ng payaw kung na tiempohan ka. Ayaw daw mag cooperate ng may ari ng fishing boat. Baka nga ganun ang ginagawa nila.

  12. Kumbaga sa pagkain ay mapapanis lang ang Panatag Island na iyan na hindi napapakinabangan.Kung aangkinin at ipipilit ng Pilipinas na sa kanya ang Scarborough Shoal ay walang mangyayaring maganda kasi hindi naman makakagawa ng hakbang para mapakinabangan kung anuman ang mayroon doon. Hindi naman makapag mina. Samantala kung sa China iyan ay mapapakinabangan agad. What if makipag usap ng maayos sa China na 50/50 ang hatian ng mapapakinabangan doon. Kahit pa 60/40 ang sa China ay 60 kasi wala naman kagamitan ang Pilipinas. Dahil kung ipipilit talaga ng Pilipinas na sa kanya ang Scarborough Shoal ay hindi papayag ang China dahil inaangkin din nila.

  13. arvin, yan ang mababaw na pananaw patungkol sa isyung ito. Tandaan natin na ang isyu dito, hindi lang ang Scarborough, Pinaguusapan din dito ang Reed (Recto) Bank na may confirmed natural gas at oil reserves na sisimulan nang i-extract nitong taon na ito.

    Para na nating nakikita na muling sasawsaw ang Intsik dito sa mas malaking istyu na ito. Papayagan na lang natin na makikihati sila ng walang kahirap-hirap? Yung sa Pag-asa Island, pangalawang pinakamalaki sa Spratlys, paano? Hahatian rin ba sila? Paano yung sa West York (Likas) na third largest? Yung Northeast (Parola) cay na fifth largest? Paano yung Nanshan (Lawak) island, Loaita (Kota) island, Flat (Patag) island, Lankiam (Panata) cay, Commodore (Rizal) reef, Irving (Balagtas) reef at Second Thomas (Ayungin) reef? Lahat ng mga ito okupado ng Pilipinas, tinayuan ng lighthouse ang iba at may marker naman yung iba.

    Meron tayong 7 isla at 2 reefs na okupado, samantalang 52 islands and features lahat ang kine-claim natin diyan sa West Phil. Sea.

  14. J J

    Tongue,

    Yes, si Trillanes nga yung naunang mang-bangga ng Chinese fishing boat there. Siazon had to explain to the Chinese that it was an accident. The Chinese said, well, compensate the families. Erap said, no, sorry we won’t, we don’t have money. In the end, Lucio Tan had to donate money for compensation. May namatay din atang intsik dun.

  15. J J

    Ellen,

    Di ba last week pa walang barko sa loob ng lagoon? What about the Chinese boats around the shoal (but not inside the lagoon)? Have they left?

  16. Historically, meron na tayong pruweba na meron tayong jurisdiction sa administration ng Scarborough. Nung panahon ni Marcos, binuo sa pagsusulsol ng Kano ang SEATO (Southeast Asia Treaty Org.) kung saan nag-imbita si Makoy ng war games at isinagawa yun doon sa Scarborough mismo. Doon sila nagtarget practice sa Scarborough sa ilalim ng pangangasiwa ng mga Kano, may nagawa ba ang China? Nagreklamo ba sila? Malinaw ito na noon pa man ay naipakita na natin sa pamamagitan ng isang international event na ito ay atin.

  17. chi chi

    #16. Yun naman pala. Pagpursigihan ang diplomatic solutions sa isyung ito, at i-follow up ng todo sa ITLOS ang ating karapatan sa Scarborough, Spratlys, etc pa.

    #7. That was a excellent thesis proposal, tongue. 🙂

  18. vic vic

    China with all her posturing is still many years to go to challenge the Economic and military might of the west, Firstly China does not have the naval power to protect its sea lanes in case of any conflict. She needs most of the raw materials that fuels its economy from the west and the west friendly economies and exports its manufactured goods to the western consumers, the us is the biggest of them all. China is playing her cards Safe until it feels safe to play hardball. The reason why Hilary is not losing sleep at all with all China’s Posturing.

  19. Another theory I’ve read in Wall Street Journal says that this issue was blown out of proportion indirectly because of media censorship in China. The shoal problem coincided with 2 social issues that are taboo in Chinese media – first, the exile of the blind activist in US Embassy and the other, the Bo Xilai affair.

    Like in Arroyo’s regime, the Chinese gov’t effectively deflected prospective trouble by deliberately introducing socially sensitive issues that can capture the social media’s attention away from it’s government’s shortcomings. This resulted in weeks of patriotic heated exchanges over the web, tv and newspapers.

  20. Jake Las Pinas Jake Las Pinas

    or that we have been abandoned by the us. After the visit here of the ceasar from hawaii then the visit of pnoy in the us, suddenly we retreat from scarborough. Truly the typhoon was a face saving event for us. Damn scarborough is too close to our shores.

  21. Golberg Golberg

    Jake, we were not abandoned by the U.S (hopefully). The elites abandoned the U.S and now living in China. Kaya siguro malakas ang loob ng mga intsik kasi nakasandal na sila sa, di lang pader, kundi man bundok, burol. Malaki ang utang ng U.S sa China. Now China is taunting U.S
    “We now have what you use to have. Now we will test your might.”

  22. Napakaraming island sa Pilipinas kumpara sa ilan lang na gustong angkinin ng china. Ibigay na lang iyan o makipag share sa china para sa magiging kita ng pag mina o ano pa. Kaysa makikipag debate pa o idaas sa proseso na ayaw naman ng china.

  23. Kilala naman ang mga Pinoy na mabait, matulungin, hospitable kaya dapat lang na payagan na lang kung anuman ang gustong china. Makipag hati na lang sa kikitain diyan. Huwag solohin ng bansang Pilipinas ang pag claim dahil hindi papayag ang china. Magkakagulo lang.

  24. MPRivera MPRivera

    sino ba ang pinakamayaman sa pilipinas?

    maliban du’n sa mga nangurakot na pulitiko, bukod kay pacquiao, meron bang masasabi na PURONG dugong PINOY na kabilang sa mayayaman?

    kapag ibinigay sa tsina nang ganun ganun lang o hayaang makibahagi sila sa anumang likas na yaman diyan sa inaangking maliwanag na parte ng ating soberenya, ang mangyayari niyan ay UUNTI-UNTIIN at parang pagapang na aangkinin ng mga intsik ang pilipinas.

    kunsabagay, maaaring hindi magtagal at ganyan nga ang mangyayari KUNG pagbabatayan ay ang mga ikinikilos ng ating mga lider.

    ano nga ba ang mawawala sa kanila gayung umaapaw na ang kanilang mga bank accounts at maaari silang mamuhay nang masagana sakaling gustuhin nilang sa ibang bansa na la’ang manirahan sa sandaling sakupin ng mga beho ang ating bayan?

    mawawalan ba naman ng kaparte ang mga sukab na ‘yan kapag nagkabayaran?

  25. Ibigay na nga lang o makipag hati sa kikitain doon. Kaysa naman mapanis lang iyan. Mayaman naman tayo kaso sa ibang paraan. Ang pinahiram sa IMF na pera kung ginamit iyon pagbili ng mga kagamitan para makapag mina o anu ang makuha sa spratly island na iyan ay maganda sana. Kaso wala eh. Naalala ko pa sinabi ng professor ko na ang bansang mahirap ay mahirap yumaman kasi kung hihiram ng pera sa IMF, worldbank ay may kondisyon. Dapat ang perang hihiramin ay hindi igagawa ng kikita ang gobyerno. Dapat lang ang perang hiramin para sa mga pagpapaayos ng kalsada o anu pa. Hindi puwede yata humiram para gumawa ng factory o ano na kikita ang bansa. Ewan kung totoo iyon. Kaya kung ang hihiramin talaga na pera ng isang bansa sa IMF o worldbank ay para sa pagpapaayos ng mga kalsada ay walang kikitain ang gobyerno.

Leave a Reply