Chester Cabarza, president and founder of the Manila-based think tank International Development and Security Cooperation, said the carrier patrol was an example of “performative politics” by Beijing and could become more frequent.
If that’s the case, “it would mean a red flag is going up for their national security,” he said, adding that “the sight of large military forces means Beijing is preparing for war,” the Post reported.
A standoff between China and the Philippines over territorial claims in the South China Sea turned violent last month in the first clash since China enacted new rules on how it deals with foreign vessels and detains foreigners “suspected of violating” rules in Chinese waters.
A few weeks ago, a Philippine navy ship and a Chinese vessel collided near Second Thomas Reef in the South China Sea, an area claimed by Manila.
The navies and coast guards of the two countries have been at loggerheads in recent months as the Philippines, backed by the United States, has made tough claims over the Chinese-claimed Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea.
China claims most of the South China Sea (SCS), which is hotly contested by the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei and Taiwan.
China alleges that the Philippines deliberately grounded a naval vessel at Second Thomas Reef (known as Ren’ai Reef in Chinese) in 1999 and converted the damaged vessel into a permanent facility manned by naval personnel.
The Philippines, with the backing of the United States, is trying to assert its claims to the South China Sea based on a 2016 ruling by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) that recognised its rights.
But China, which boycotted the tribunal, rejected the tribunal’s ruling and vehemently defended its case.
China last month promulgated a new law giving its coast guard the power to seize foreign ships that illegally enter Chinese territorial waters and detain foreign crew members for up to 60 days.
The law gives China’s coast guard the power to open fire on foreign vessels if necessary.
