By Cliff Potts
June 15, 2025

TOKYO/MANILA – Rising geopolitical tensions in the Indo-Pacific region have spotlighted two significant incidents involving Japan, China, and the Philippines since Friday, underscoring the fragile balance of power in contested maritime and airspace zones.

On June 10, Japan’s Defense Ministry reported the sighting of China’s Shandong aircraft carrier within Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) near Okinotorishima, a disputed territory also claimed by China and Taiwan. This was followed by the Liaoning carrier’s presence near Minamitorishima, both incidents occurring over the weekend. Japan condemned the moves as a provocative show of force, with posts on X reflecting public alarm over the escalating maritime row (@pstAsiatech, 2025). On June 12, the situation intensified when Chinese fighter jets intercepted a Japanese patrol aircraft near the Shandong in the Western Pacific, risking a collision in what Japan described as reckless behavior (@VDacicus, 2025). China’s Foreign Ministry has not commented, but analysts suggest Beijing is testing Japan’s resolve amid growing U.S.-aligned alliances in the region.

Meanwhile, in the West Philippine Sea, no new incidents have been reported since Friday, June 13, based on available sources. However, the region remains a flashpoint following earlier confrontations. On June 5, Filipino forces visited West York Island (Likas), a Philippine-occupied territory in the disputed South China Sea, where Armed Forces spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla symbolically kissed the shore, reinforcing Manila’s claims (AP News, 2025). This act followed a June 3 incident where the Philippine Coast Guard’s BRP Cabra confronted Chinese vessels within the Philippines’ EEZ, broadcasting warnings under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Newsweek, 2025). China accused the Philippines of provocation, while Manila asserted its sovereign rights. The absence of reported clashes since Friday may indicate a temporary lull, but the underlying territorial dispute persists, with China maintaining a steady presence near Luzon.

These incidents highlight the broader strategic contest in the Indo-Pacific. Japan and the Philippines, both U.S. allies, face increasing Chinese assertiveness. The Japan-Philippines Reciprocal Access Agreement, signed last year, aims to bolster maritime security against China’s actions (South China Morning Post, 2025). The U.S. has reaffirmed its defense commitments, raising the stakes for potential miscalculations. Experts warn that without diplomatic de-escalation, such encounters could spiral into broader conflict.

As regional powers navigate these turbulent waters, the international community watches closely, urging restraint to preserve stability in this critical geopolitical arena.

References
AP News. (2025, June 10). Philippine-held island in disputed South China Sea sits in Beijing’s shadow. AP News. https://apnews.com
Newsweek. (2025, June 3). Video shows US ally confronting China in contested waters. Newsweek. https://www.newsweek.com
South China Morning Post. (2025, June 2). Will Japan’s ‘near alliance’ with the Philippines fuel China’s suspicions? South China Morning Post. https://www.scmp.com
@VDacicus. (2025, June 12). Japan says Chinese fighter jets risked collision after close encounter over Pacific. X.
@pstAsiatech. (2025, June 10). Japan spots Chinese navy’s show of force in west Pacific amid maritime row. X.

Discover more from WPS News

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.