Was recent skirmish at Scarborough Shoal a calculated diversionary tactic?

THE recent skirmish at Scarborough Shoal, where Chinese Air Force aircraft allegedly dropped flares in the path of a Philippine Air Force NC-212i plane, is a significant and alarming event in the ongoing maritime tensions and disputes in the South China Sea (SCS) between the Philippines and China.

It's important to note that the Scarborough Shoal is not just a piece of land but a hotly contested area. Under China's de facto control, it remains a battleground of competing claims, particularly between China and the Philippines. The current situation traces back to a standoff in 2012 between Chinese and Philippine vessels over fishing rights in the area. This confrontation ended with China gaining de facto control over the shoal despite its being within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Since then, Chinese maritime and coast guard vessels have maintained a presence at the shoal, effectively controlling access to the area.