A Chinese tugboat was recently spotted near Second Thomas Shoal, raising concerns that China could attempt to remove the BRP Sierra Madre warship. The Philippine navy intentionally grounded the vessel in 1999 and still maintains a Marine garrison onboard to protect its claim to the surrounding Spratly Islands. Chinese latest actions follow a deadly accident last week between its own navy and coast guard near Scarborough Shoal while chasing a Philippine ship. It also comes as Beijing ramps up its propaganda about its so-called ‘historical’ claims to much of the South China Sea. But just how valid are these claims? In this episode, Taiwan Talks analyzes China’s latest aggressive acts and takes a deep dive into maritime history to separate truth from fiction.
*Recorded on August 27, 2025 at 3:00pm Taiwan Standard Time
Host: Yin Khvat
Our guests:
Renato Cruz de Castro
- National Chengchi University MOFA Taiwan Fellow
Titus Chen
- National Chengchi University Institute of International Relations Research Professor and Deputy Director
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