Analysts say China’s confrontational campaign, from far-flung Southeast Asia to Taiwan and remote Japanese islands, is meant to weaken regional rivals competing with it for disputed territories.
In recent years, Beijing has more boldly asserted its claims in the long-standing dispute as its military power has grown.
The escalating actions on East China Sea islands claimed by Japan, the self-ruled territory of Taiwan and the South China Sea come as Beijing’s rivals have drawn closer to the United States.
“(China) believes its tough strategy is paying off,” Vietnam-based maritime security analyst Duan Dang told AFP.
China has in recent months deployed military and coast guard ships to push the Philippines out of three strategic reefs and islands in the South China Sea.
“The number of fronts where a catastrophe could occur suddenly is very real,” Dylan Loh, an assistant professor at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University, told AFP.
The latest collision point is Sabina Shoal, just 140 kilometres (86 miles) west of the Philippine island of Palawan and about 1,200 kilometres from China’s nearest major landmass, Hainan Island.
On Monday, Beijing said it took “control measures” against two Philippine coast guard ships that “illegally” entered waters near Sabina Shoal.
Manila responded that the Chinese vessels had prevented Philippine ships from resupplying its coast guard vessels in the region – a move Beijing described as the “biggest disruptor” to regional peace.
‘Push the limits’
China has for years sought to expand its power in the South China Sea, ignoring an international ruling that its claims to most of the waterway have no legal basis.
It has built artificial islands equipped with missile systems and runways for fighter jets, and deployed ships that the Philippines says harass its vessels and stop its fishermen.
In 2012, Beijing took control of Scarborough Shoal, another disputed area near the Philippines.
And in June, Chinese coast guard personnel brandished weapons and attacked Philippine vessels near the disputed Second Thomas Shoal, a confrontation in which Manila said one of its sailors lost his thumb.
The recent incidents come at a time when the Philippines has strengthened ties with its traditional ally, the United States, with which it has a mutual defense treaty.
Duan said the agreement could “prevent outright war”, but Beijing still sees an opportunity to clamp down on Manila while Washington is distracted by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and uncertainties surrounding its own presidential election in November.
The Philippines, however, on Thursday raised the possibility of US escort for its resupply missions.
Chong Jae-Ian, associate professor of political science at the National University of Singapore (NUS), told AFP that China was trying to weaken Philippine resolve.
He said Beijing was directly challenging the Philippines’ ability to administer and use its exclusive economic zone.
He explained that he was “trying to cross (but stay below) the line of aggression.”
“They don’t want to lose control of the escalating tensions.”
Not isolated
China’s recent aggression extends beyond the South China Sea.
It has increased the number of fighter jets, drones and naval ships around Taiwan, part of a strategy that analysts say is designed to keep the democratic island on high alert for a possible invasion.
Beijing says Taiwan is part of it and has not ruled out the use of force to unify it.
China has also increased pressure in recent years on a disputed group of islands controlled by Japan in the East China Sea.
In June, Tokyo protested the arrival of four Chinese ships believed to be armed near the islands, known as Diaoyu in China and Senkaku in Japan.
And this week Japan said a Chinese military aircraft had flown through its airspace for the first time, a “serious violation” of its sovereignty.
Beijing has not acknowledged the intrusion near the uninhabited Danzhou Islands – undisputed Japanese territory – but said it may have been unintentional.
However, analysts say its purpose may have been to deliberately probe Japan’s air defense network and collect electronic intelligence.
“People sometimes think of the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait and the East China Sea … as isolated,” said NUS’s Chong.
“That’s not the case. These are all areas where (China) hopes to establish greater control,” he said.
“They’re trying to see how far they can go.”