The mounting incidents where China warned Philippine aircraft and ships to leave disputed territories in the South China Sea through radio warnings have struck a nerve among Philippine officials. In mid-2017 alone, China had reportedly issue radio warnings at least 46 times while Philippine military aircraft were patrolling the region.
In one said incident, a pilot of a Philippine air force plane took offense when he received China's radio warnings reprimanding him that he was "endangering the security of the Chinese reef," the Associated Press reported. The warning went on telling the pilot to leave the Gaven Reef immediately to avoid further misunderstanding.
The encounter lasted up until the pilot saw two flare warning signals coming from the direction off Gaven Reef. This happened after China issued another warning.
"Philippine military aircraft, I am warning you again, leave immediately or you will pay the possible consequences," a Chinese official reportedly said.
The Philippines said the escalating radio warnings became its new problem after China completed its transformation of disputed reefs into artificial islands using dredged sand in the Spratlys. According to the account of the incidents, similar radio cautions were issued by Chinese officials aboard guard ships. Analysis of radio transcripts revealed, however, they were at present coming from the artificial islands. The account also alleged that China had stationed advanced communication network and surveillance apparatus, and weapons such as surface-to-air missiles.
On Tuesday, July 31, Philippine Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano was optimistic that the Code of Conduct on the South China Sea will be completed or at least substantially accomplished within this year. In fact, Cayetano said the document could be ready in time for the ASEAN summit in Singapore in November, according to the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
Cayetano, however, would like everyone to manage their expectations as such document proved to be challenging to accomplish. The code shall define the accepted behaviors among claimants of South China Sea. Aside from the Philippines and China, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei, and Taiwan have also been asserting territorial rights over the disputed region.
While the Philippines is hell-bent at fighting with China over the South China Sea, the country's top government officials conflict with each other. Former President Benigno Aquino III accused President Rodrigo Duterte's administration of ambiguity on its dealings with China. The incumbent has recently been showing signs of leaning towards China over its long-time ally, the U.S.
The Permanent Court of Arbitration had invalidated China's nine-dash line claim over the region in 2016. Philippine Vice President Leni Robredo, however, felt that Duterte failed to assert the Philippines' court victory. Robredo has reportedly think that Duterte has been intentionally reluctant over Philippines' claims on the South China Sea in exchange for favorable ties with China.
