After China’s coast guard fired water cannons and sideswiped a Filipino patrol vessel, Japan and Philippines sent navy ships alongside United States reconnaissance aircraft to patrol the South China Sea . The joint patrol was conducted to “uphold the right to freedom of navigation and overflight,” and “other lawful uses of the sea and international airspace,” according to the US Indo-Pacific Command. The patrol occurred near Scarborough Shoal, a disputed area between Beijing and Manila, where Chinese coast guard vessels recently fired water cannons and blocked Philippine ships delivering aid to Filipino fishers. Although right after, the patrol was not necessarily a direct response to the water cannon confrontation, as this is the fifth time the three countries have patrolled since last year. Although China claims almost entirely the South China Sea, it has not made any action or comments on the patrol.
This event is important because it highlights the growing allyship between the United States, Japan, and the Philippines and their attempts to counter the growing threat of China’s expansion. China’s confrontation has also been condemned by the U.S., Japan, and the EU, as well as Japan’s announcement of $10 million dollars for security assistance to the Philippines and the United States pledge of defense for the Philippines. Basically, China’s water cannon conflict has led the country to be shunned by many other world powers.
The Philippines, Japan, and the United States have a great example of a relationship viewed through the Liberal Theory lens. All three countries support liberal institutionalism, commercial liberal theory, and the democratic peace theory, using democracy and diplomacy to achieve peaceful relations against a common antagonist. On the other hand, China has lost much credibility with their identity due to the water cannon attack.