Shipwreck Ignites Dispute Between China and the Philippines: What's the Story?

China has once again requested the Philippines to withdraw a World War II-era warship from disputed shallow waters after Manila previously rejected a similar request from Beijing. Manila currently utilizes the ship as a military outpost. The conflict between the neighboring countries over the South China Sea has intensified under Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., as Manila rekindles its alliance with the United States, which supports it in maritime disputes with China. The Chinese embassy in Manila criticized Washington for "mobilizing" its allies to continue "amplifying" the South China Sea issue and the ship. In a statement on Tuesday, the embassy stated, "The South China Sea is not a playground for countries outside the region to create harm and sow discord." The "Second Thomas Shoal" area is located within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone and is home to a small number of soldiers living aboard the decommissioned Sierra Madre warship. Manila intentionally placed the ship in this area in 1999 to reinforce its sovereignty claims. Beijing asserts sovereignty over most of the South China Sea, claims that are internationally rejected, while Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei, Taiwan, and the Philippines all assert sovereignty over specific areas of the waterway.