Source: TH
Context: The Philippines’ Foreign Ministry said it summoned China’s Ambassador to protest Beijing’s drawing of baselines around the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea.
Places in News: South China Sea Dispute
- South China Sea:
- Contains an estimated 11 billion barrels of oil and 190 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.
- Claimed by China, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam.
- Spratly Islands:
- Strategic location with rich natural resources and fishing zones.
- Second Thomas Shoal: Philippines grounded BRP Sierra Madre to assert claims.
- Frequent site of China-Philippines clashes, including laser usage and water cannon incidents by Chinese vessels.
- Paracel Islands:
- Militarized by China with fighter jets, missiles, and radar systems.
- Woody Island:
- Key base for China’s military installations in the region.
- Scarborough Shoal:
- Known as Scarborough Shoal, Panacot, Bajo de Masinloc (Spanish), Huangyan Island (Mandarin), and Panatag Shoal (Filipino).
- Disputed between the Philippines, People’s Republic of China, and Taiwan.
- Claimed by the Philippines via the Treaty of Washington (1900) and the 1734 Velarde map.
- Claimed by China under its nine-dash line.
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