By Micah McCartney

Copyright newsweek

The U.S. envoy to the Philippines has condemned Beijing’s “aggressive actions” following a confrontation between Chinese and Philippine government vessels near the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea.Why It MattersChina claims sovereignty over most of the South China Sea, a strategic conduit for an estimated one-fifth of global maritime trade. These claims overlap with those of the Philippines and several other neighboring countries.China’s ongoing expansion into the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ)—and the Philippine government’s pushback—have resulted in repeated and sometimes dramatic clashes near disputed maritime features, raising concerns a fatal miscalculation could trigger Manila’s Mutual Defense Treaty with Washington.Newsweek reached out to the Chinese Defense Ministry by email via written request for comment.What To KnowThe incident occurred during a Philippine government mission to deliver supplies to fishermen near Scarborough Shoal, a traditional fishing ground.Chinese coast guard vessels accused Manila of intruding into its waters and claimed a Philippine ship rammed one of its vessels.Philippine officials said Chinese water cannons damaged a fisheries bureau boat and injured a crew member.In a statement posted to X late on Tuesday, U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson condemned “China’s aggressive actions in the Philippine EEZ near Scarborough Reef.””We commend the Philippine government and coast guard for professionally exercising Philippine sovereign rights, protecting Filipino fisherfolk, and upholding maritime law for a free and open Indo-Pacific,” Carlson said.Jay Tarriela, spokesperson for the Philippine coast guard, thanked Carlson for the expression of support.”Your recognition of the courageous men and women of the Philippine coast guard for their professional protection of Filipino fisherfolk and commitment to upholding maritime law is greatly appreciated,” he wrote in an X post.China has reiterated its claim over Scarborough, known in Beijing as Huangyan Island and in Manila as Bajo de Masinloc, and accused the Philippine ships of intruding into its territory.Lin Jian, a spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry, said during a regular press briefing Tuesday: “What happened proved once again that the Philippines’ deliberate infringement and provocations at sea are the root cause of the tensions.”He called on the Philippines to stop challenging “China’s firm resolve to safeguard our lawful rights and interests.”The Philippine coast guard and fisheries bureau began joint patrols near Scarborough Shoal early last year to support Filipino fishermen, who have often been driven away from the grounds by Chinese coast guard vessels.These supply runs have added to tensions in the area. During one such mission last month, a Chinese coast guard ship collided with a Chinese navy destroyer as the two vessels pursued a Philippine supply convoy.The coast guard cutter was heavily damaged in the incident, which was widely seen as a major embarrassment for China and raised concerns Beijing could take further escalatory steps.Adding to the tensions, last week Beijing unilaterally declared part of the reef a marine nature reserve, drawing protests from Manila, Washington, and several U.S. allies.What’s NextChina is expected to continue efforts to assert control over Scarborough Shoal and other features within the Philippines’ maritime zone.Ongoing friction with Beijing has prompted Manila to deepen security ties with the United States and other partners active in the region, including Japan and Australia. The Philippines is also in the midst of a $35-billion military modernization campaign.