Image Credits: Philippine Coast Guard The Philippines has announced strict action against the illegal entry of Chinese ships into its territorial waters. The Coast Guard has decided to send aircraft and patrol ships to drive away Chinese research vessels sailing near the Spratly Islands. Per a statement by the PCG spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela, the Chinese ships are conducting maritime scientific research without taking prior permission from the government. This violates the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which states that a foreign country must obtain the consent of the coastal country before conducting marine scientific research within its Exclusive Economic Zone. PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan said that Manila will not tolerate any illegal activities and will take appropriate measures against Beijing to safeguard the country’s sovereignty. This development comes amidst an increase in skirmishes between the navies of China and the Philippines in the contested South China Sea, which Manila refers to as the West Philippine Sea. 40 Chinese Ships Maintain Illegal Presence In Philippines’ EEZ The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) mentioned that there are more than 40 Chinese ships sailing around the Kalayaan Island Group in the West Philippine Sea. PCG’s Islander 4177 aircraft identified a Chinese research ship, the Xiang Yang Hong 33, 7.34 nautical miles west of Rozul Reef. The Chinese vessel was seen sending a service boat towards the reef, and a Chinese Coast Guard ship, the CCGV BN 5309, was also seen nearby. The Xiang Yang Hong had reportedly left China in mid-April, and, since then, has been involved in several survey activities within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. Simultaneously, PCG aircraft also spotted and monitored 28 more Chinese militia vessels anchored near Cay 1 and Cay 2. Why China Refuses to Honour the 2016 Hague Ruling China claims almost all of the South China Sea, a waterway that handles over $3 trillion in annual maritime trade, including islands claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei. The government has renamed parts of the South China Sea that fall within Philippine territory as the West Philippine Sea to reinforce the country’s claim. The West Philippine Sea refers to the maritime areas on the western side of the Philippine archipelago, such as the Luzon Sea and the waters around, within and adjacent to the Kalayaan Island Group and Bajo de Masinloc. In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague gave a verdict in favour of the Philippines in the South China Sea, saying that China’s claims had ‘no legal basis’. However, China has not paid heed to international arbitration or verdicts and has not only upheld those claims but pushed them with more aggression, which has led to dangerous manoeuvres between Chinese and Philippine vessels, such as the use of water cannons and increased Chinese deployment around the Scarborough and Second Thomas Shoals. China’s Aggressive Tactics Towards Philippine Resupply Vessels In April, China installed a 352 m floating barrier at the entrance of the Scarborough Shoal, obstructing access of Filipino fishing boats and also interfering with Philippine resupply missions. At the beginning of this month, Manila dealt with a Chinese drone mothership, the Juhai Yan or Yuanyan, operating within Philippine waters. Key areas of contention include the Second Thomas Shoal and Scarborough Shoal, where Chinese coast guar