China has deployed its second aircraft carrier, Shandong, to patrol waters off the Philippine coast, as Manila asserts its claims over a shoal in the disputed South China Sea.
The 70,000 tonnes carrier serves as a deterrence against Philippine provocations on Chinese islands and reefs in the South China Sea.
Shandong Aircraft is likely on a scheduled exercise to prepare for a potential far-sea voyage into the West Pacific. This comes after the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) deployed major surface combat ships in the South China Sea as the maritime territorial conflict with Manila escalated.
The China-Philippines confrontation to assert claims in the disputed South China Sea took a violent turn last month, with naval ships colliding in the first such incident after Beijing issued new rules to act against foreign vessels and detain foreigners suspected of violating regulations in the Chinese waters.
The Philippines, backed by the US, has made a strong bid to assert its claims over the Second Thomas Shoal of the South China Sea, which China claims most of.
The Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei, and Taiwan dispute the claim.
China alleges that the Philippines deliberately ran a naval ship aground in 1999 at the Second Thomas Shoal and converted it into a permanent installation.
The Philippines is trying to assert its claims based on a 2016 (UNCLOS) ruling, but China, which boycotted the tribunal, has rejected the findings and fiercely asserted its claims.
China recently promulgated a new law authorizing its coast guard to seize foreign ships that illegally enter its territorial waters and detain foreign crews for up to 60 days.
The US has deployed the mid-range Typhon missile systems in the Philippines as a show of strength for its backing for Manila’s claims.
The Philippines has also imported India’s Brahmos missiles.
China currently has two aircraft carriers, Liaoning, and Shandong, and its third carrier, Fujian, is undergoing trials.
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