China Breaches Security Concerns Of Neighbours As Both Philippines And Taiwan Raise Alarm Over Its Belligerent Actions: Here's All About It

China's belligerent expansionism and disregard for the concerns of other nations has again come to fore as two of its neighbours, the Philippines and Taiwan have voiced sharp misgivings about its actions.

The Philippines has accused the China Coast Guard of using water cannon against two of its vessels on Tuesday (30 April), resulting in damage to one of them, during a patrol near a reef off the Southeast Asian country.

Manila and Beijing have a history of territorial disputes in the South China Sea, including several recent collisions involving Philippine and Chinese vessels, as well as the use of water cannon by the China Coast Guard.

The incident occurred near the China-controlled Scarborough Shoal, a potential flashpoint, during a mission to resupply Filipino fishermen. The Philippine Coast Guard stated, "This damage serves as evidence of the forceful water pressure used by the China Coast Guard in their harassment of the Philippine vessels."

Additionally, the China Coast Guard reportedly reinstalled a 380-meter barrier across the entrance to the shoal, a traditional fishing ground, blocking access to the waters inside.

Meanwhile, according to Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence, seven People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft were observed in the Taiwan Strait.

The ministry stated that it monitored the situation using its surveillance, intelligence, and reconnaissance systems and deployed combat patrol aircraft, naval vessels, and land-based air defense missile systems in response.

In a statement posted on X, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence said, "7 PLA aircraft and 7 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 5 of the aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's southwestern ADIZ. #ROCArmedForces have monitored the situation and employed appropriate forces to respond."

In April alone, Taiwan's MND has reported spotting Chinese military aircraft 247 times and naval vessels 176 times, according to Taiwan News. Since September 2020, China has increasingly used "gray zone tactics," deploying military aircraft and naval vessels over the median line and into Taiwan's ADIZ.

The continued presence of Chinese military aircraft and vessels near Taiwan comes amid heightened tensions in the Taiwan Strait, with Beijing asserting its territorial claims over the self-governing island.

Taiwan has long been a point of contention between China and the international community, with Beijing viewing the island as an integral part of its territory, while Taiwan maintains its sovereignty.