'Unique' how countries are jointly challenging China in the South China Sea

The armed forces of the United States, Japan, Australia and the Philippines conducted a large-scale joint exercise last weekend in the South China Sea, an area claimed by China. According to political scientist Friso Doppelbauer, it is unprecedented for countries to work so closely with each other in the region.

China certainly views last weekend's maneuvers as a provocation. “It considers the area where this is happening to be internal Chinese territory,” says Dubelbauer, of the Leiden Asia Center.

The United States, Japan, Australia and the Philippines said they want to strengthen regional and international cooperation to ensure an “open and free” maritime zone. The Chinese Navy responded yesterday by sending a “combat patrol” in the South China Sea.

Read also | Increasing military operations in the South China Sea

Argument about an atoll

According to Dobilbor, tension in the region, which has been witnessing unrest for years, has increased over the past six months, especially between China and the Philippines. The two countries are arguing over an atoll, which is nothing more than a sandbank.

“There's an old, rusty Philippine naval ship,” says the political scientist. Eight marines live there and guard that area. It must always be provided and the Chinese are trying to prevent this. It goes from bad to worse, from lasers to water cannons and collisions. Last month there were also injuries on the Philippine side.

Read also | Movements of the armies of the United States, Japan, the Philippines, and Australia in the South China Sea

The approach doesn't work

Dobelbauer believes that it is unprecedented for a group of Western-oriented countries to now work so closely with each other. “They are all concerned about China’s increasing aggressiveness or even belligerence in the region.”

The Philippines in particular has taken a complete U-turn in its policy. Under President Rodrigo Duterte, the country wanted to strengthen economic ties with China and thus ease tensions. His successor, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the son of the famous old dictator, has returned to the United States. “He saw that rapprochement with China was not working.”