China’s neighbours bolster their coastguards as stand-off stokes tensions in disputed South China Sea
- Philippines and Vietnam moved to empower their coastguards after heavily armed Chinese and Vietnamese coastguard ships began eyeing one another at Vanguard Bank
- Stand-off points to the active role being played by coastguard vessels in Asia’s most complex territorial dispute
China’s neighbours in the South China Sea are racing to empower their coastguard fleets, concerned by Beijing’s increasing use of coastguard ships to boost its sovereignty claims in the disputed waters.
Observers said China’s moves, aimed at advancing its territorial demands without involving its military, could escalate tensions in the maritime region.
On Wednesday, the Philippine Coast Guard announced it would receive a French-made 84-metre (276-foot) offshore patrol vessel, believed to be its “biggest and most modern” patrol ship, in December.
Designed to conduct general coastal patrols of territorial waters as well as law enforcement and maritime surveillance operations, the vessel is expected to handle all maritime security and safety missions in the Philippine archipelago in the South China Sea, according to local media.
Vietnam also passed a law permitting its coastguard fleet to operate outside the country’s territorial waters, sending a signal that Hanoi is likely to deploy ships to expand its presence in the controversial maritime region.
Tensions in the South China Sea have flared up in recent weeks after six heavily armed coastguard vessels – two from China and four from Vietnam – began eyeing each other in patrols around Vanguard Bank in the Spratly Islands.