A U.S. ally has dispatched a newly upgraded warship to the front lines of its territorial feud in the South China Sea, the site of dramatic run-ins with Chinese forces over the past year.
Philippine Jacinto-class patrol vessel the BRP Emilio Jacinto arrived at the western island province of Palawan on Wednesday to reinforce the naval forces tasked with patrolling the contentious area of that sea.
Manila has taken a firmer tack in pushing back against Beijing, which claims most of the sea, over the past year under the leadership of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. This has included documenting aggressive Chinese efforts to block supply runs to Philippine-held features as well as plans to step up patrols to fortify military outposts.
The deployment “represents [the Philippines’] unwavering commitment to safeguarding our maritime domain and protecting the interests of our people,” Philippine Navy Offshore Combat Force commander Edward Ike de Sagon said on Tuesday during a sending-off ceremony for the 700-ton corvette.
“Her presence will serve as a reminder to all who would dare challenge our sovereignty that we stand ready and vigilant,” local media quoted him as saying.
Newsweek has reached out to the Armed Forces of the Philippines with a written request for comment.
Acquired from the British Royal Navy in 1997, the Emilio Jacinto has just undergone extensive maintenance and upgrades.
It reinforces the Philippine armed forces’ Western Command, whose jurisdiction covers a number of features in the disputed Spratly Island group, including Second Thomas Shoal.
This submerged reef is the site of a warship run aground in 1999 to stake Manila’s claim. It hosts a contingent of Philippine marines, and the country’s supply and troop rotation missions often see clashes with blockading Chinese coast guard ships.
Wikimedia Commons
Beijing claims this and other such outposts constitute a violation of its sovereign territory, citing unspecified historical rights. Manila maintains it has a right to these areas, as they lie within its internationally recognized exclusive economic zone.
A number of Western governments, including Mutual Defense Treaty ally Washington, back the Philippines’ claim. President Joe Biden has affirmed the U.S.’s security commitments under this treaty extend to the South China Sea.
A recent survey by local consulting firm OCTA Research found Philippine nationals now prioritize a stronger military response on the South China Sea issue (72 percent) over other measures, a first since OCTA began polling on the topic.
Last Friday, the country joined the U.S. in a naval exercise the latter’s Seventh Fleet said strengthened “combined readiness and capabilities in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.”
In addition to its geopolitical significance, the South China Sea is critical to international commerce.
The U.S. Energy Information Agency estimated that as of 2016, the sea covers as much as 11 billion barrels of oil and 190 trillion cubic feet of natural gas deposits.
In addition, at least one-fifth of global trade is estimated to pass through the strategic waterway.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.