Face-Off: The U.S. vs China Clash on the High Seas
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Jan 6, 2026 
Marites Vitug, an influential Filipino journalist and author, shares her expertise on the escalating tensions in the South China Sea, highlighting dangerous encounters between Chinese warships and Filipino fishing boats. She discusses the implications of China's actions on Philippine sovereignty and maritime rights. Historian Rana Mitter offers insights into China's strategic motives in targeting the Philippines, emphasizing the potential risks of conflict. Together, they explore U.S.-Philippine military ties and the broader geopolitical landscape.
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China's Strategic Aim In The South China Sea
- China aims to dominate the South China Sea to displace U.S. influence and make it effectively their "lake."
- That ambition threatens vital trade routes carrying trillions and raises strategic stakes beyond regional fishing rights.
How Scarborough Shoal Was Lost
- In 2012 Chinese vessels blockaded Scarborough Shoal for two months, preventing Philippine ships from entering.
- A U.S.-China meeting led Manila to withdraw but China stayed, and Fu Ying later denied any withdrawal agreement.
Legal Victory, Political Retreat
- The 2016 Hague win for the Philippines was legally decisive but politically hollow.
- Rodrigo Duterte chose rapprochement with China, sidelining the court victory and shifting Manila's stance.
