The standoff in the Scarborough Shoal between China and the Philippines not only demonstrated Manila’s commitment to defend its maritime territory, but also Beijing’s determination to maintain its territorial aspirations at all costs. Knowing what strings to pull to pressure the Philippines, Beijing engaged in a series of de facto economic reprisals.

For its part, the Philippines internationalized the issue in a bid to draw international opinion against China, with mixed fortunes. Indeed, while Philippine naval vessels eventually left the Shoal, their Chinese counterparts stayed behind and continue to prevent Filipino fishermen from fishing in the area…

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