The Problem of Whitsun Reef

Introduction

More than a month has passed since a statement relating to the presence of Chinese fishing vessels at Whitsun Reef was released by the Philippine Coast Guard and the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS). As time drags on, this “tempest-in-a-teacup” issue has seemingly been hyped up, which could potentially trigger an escalation of tensions. More active efforts are needed by China and the Philippines to manage the issue.

The full publication is available on China-US Focus’s website.