China Coast Guard maintained near-daily patrols at key features across the disputed South China Sea last year.
The graph shows that patrols in the waters surrounding the Vanguard Bank off Vietnam, an area known for its oil and gas reserves, more than doubled to 310 days in 2022.
The number of days Chinese ships patrolled near Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands, where the Philippines maintains a garrison, increased to 279 from 232 days, while those at Luconia Shoals, near important Malaysian oil and gas operations, rose to 316 from 279.
China also patrolled near Scarborough Shoal, administrated by the Philippines, for 287 days over the past year.
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The patrols show Beijing’s determination to assert control over its claim to more than 80% of the South China Sea. With China Coast Guard vessels operating in Malaysian, Philippine and Vietnamese waters every day of the year, it all but guarantees tensions remain high. It also means that run-ins with those neighbors will be a regular occurrence.
However, China’s ships encounters with the US naval vessels is also likely to happen on more regular basis.
The region has become a highly-contested one where every country has their own interests to pursue. Besides the Taiwan Strait, the South China Sea right now is one more place where a devastating confrontation may start in the near future.
