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full screen China and the Philippines have reached an agreement on the disputed Second Thomas Shoal atoll. In March this year, China used water bombs against a Philippine boat carrying supplies on its way to the atoll. Photo: Aaron Favila/AP/TT
China and the Philippines have reached an agreement that is expected to prevent further confrontations over the disputed Second Thomas Shoal atoll.
The Philippines occupies the atoll in the southern South China Sea with military stationed on the ring-shaped island, but China has also claimed it.
The previous clashes between the countries have raised concerns about larger conflicts that could involve the United States. The Philippines is the country’s oldest ally in Asia, and Washington has said it is obligated to defend Philippine defense forces if attacked in the South China Sea.
The agreement, which has not yet been made public by the countries, was reached on Sunday in the Philippine capital, Manila, after several diplomatic talks. The goal has been to reach a settlement accepted by both sides without recognizing the other side’s territorial claims, according to two anonymous Philippine government officials.
The conflict has flared up repeatedly since last year. Among them, the Philippines accuses the Chinese coast guard of having used water cannons to prevent navy boats from, among other things, delivering supplies to the military stationed on the atoll.
A Chinese ship last June rammed a Philippine ship where the coast guard then boarded the ship. According to China, the ramming was due to the ship ignoring warnings and therefore “control measures were taken”.