South China Sea: Philippine lawmakers back proposal to boost funding for security forces

The move comes after Manila removed a floating barrier that Beijing installed at the entrance to the Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea

The government seeks 10.14 billion pesos (US$178 million) in confidential and intelligence funds for 2024

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A Philippine fisherman sails past a Chinese coast guard ship near the Chinese-controlled Scarborough Shoal. Photo: AFP

Published: 5:30pm, 27 Sep 2023

Philippine lawmakers have rallied behind a proposal to funnel more money into law enforcement agencies tasked with protecting the country’s territorial waters as tensions and a war of words between Manila and Beijing over the disputed South China Sea escalate.

Senators and leaders of political parties in the House of Representatives on Wednesday underscored the need to reallocate confidential and intelligence funds to four departments, including the coastguard and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, after China installed a floating barrier at the entrance to the Scarborough Shoal that has been under its control since 2012.

The Philippine coastguard on Monday removed the buoy blocking the shoal, which Manila says lies within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ), a 370km (230 miles) stretch of water where coastal states have exclusive rights to fish and other resources.

A Philippine fishing boat is anchored near the Chinese-controlled Scarborough Shoal (back) in the disputed South China Sea. Photo: AFP

China’s action “not only impedes the rights and livelihoods of our Filipino fishermen but also disrupts the prevailing atmosphere of regional peace and collaboration”, the party heads said in a statement.

“Recognising the rising security threats in the West Philippine Sea and the need to secure top officials, these agencies are better positioned to counteract security threats, protect our territorial waters, and secure the rights and access of Filipino fishermen to traditional fishing grounds,” it said.

The West Philippine Sea is the term used by Manila to describe the eastern parts of the South China Sea that are within its EEZ and territorial waters.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said the upper chamber also intends to “do the same” and earmark extra funds to the intelligence agencies, ABS-CBN reported.