Satellite image of Mischief Reef, site of the standoff.
Date
February 15-20, 1995
Location
Mischief Reef, South China Sea
Result
Chinese structures destroyed by the Philippine Navy.
Territorial changes
Mischief Reef acquired by the Philippines; Philippine flag planted on the reef.
Belligerents
China
Philippines
Naval support: United States
Units involved
People's Liberation Army Navy
Philippine Navy Philippine Air Force Philippine Coast Guard United States Navy
The Mischief Reef standoff was a military confrontation between the Philippines, backed by the United States, and the People's Republic of China over the disputed Mischief Reef (美济礁; pinyin: Meiji Jiao; literally: "Meiji Reef"; Tagalog: Panganiban Reef; Vietnamese: Đá Vành Khăn) in the South China Sea. The standoff lasted for five days on February 15-20, 1995 before the Chinese backed off in the face of American naval superiority, which escorted the Philippine Navy warships. The incident soured China-Philippines diplomatic relations and strengthened the US-RP alliance. It also signified continuing American dominance in the Asia-Pacific region.
The South China Sea has been a disputed area since the beginning of the 20th Century. The islands, reefs, shoals, and atolls have been claimed by various nations including France when it ruled over Indochina, the Republic of China government in Taiwan, and the Philippines during the 1950s-1960s. In May 1956, a Filipino lawyer named Tomas Cloma seized the island and attempted to establish a country called the Free Territory of Freedomland. This caused a stir within the government of the Philippines and the Republic of China, as Cloma stole an ROC flag on one of the islands and threatened to attack ROC positions. Cloma himself stood down on the request of the government and was jailed by Philippine President Ferdinand E. Marcos in 1972 for four months for "impersonating a military officer by being called an ‘admiral’".
Claims on the SCS.
In January 1974, the China attacked South Vietnamese positions in the Paracel Islands and seized the island chain. Years later, in March 1988, China and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam would clash over Johnson South Reef, resulting in the death of 64 Vietnamese sailors and China seizing the reef.
In 1994, Chinese ships have began venturing into the South China Sea, surveying the area for natural resources and placing a claim on the islands. The Chinese began building structures on Mischief Reef as early as 1994. These were spotted by Philippine Air Force and Navy recon planes, which relayed this information to the AFP. Diplomatic protests were filed by the Fidel Ramos administration against Beijing, which replied that Mischief reef had been part of Chinese territory since ancient times. Plans within the AFP were then drawn on how to put the claim on Mischief Reef.
The Standoff
Beginning
On the late evening of February 14, 1995, the Philippine Navy warships and Philippine Coast Guard patrol boats began sailing from Zambales accompanied by the Belleau Wood and the Reuben James. The Filipino ships would arrive on the reef around early morning since the reef takes almost a whole day to arrive. The US warships stayed farther away in order to observe the actions of the Chinese. Once there, Chinese PLA-N and China Marine Surveillance (CMS) ships began warning the Philippine flotilla. "Philippine ships, you are entering sovereign Chinese territory, please leave immediately" the Chinese said. The Filipinos did not stand down and the ships would face-off each other for the next five days. A Britten-Norman Islander belonging to the PN flew over the area, providing reconnaissance and intel to the Filipinos and the American naval forces below.
Chasing off the Chinese ships
Planting of the Flag of the Philippines on Mischief Reef's shallow rocks.
On February 19, 1995, the Belleau Wood and the Reuben James approached the area of the standoff. The Chinese warships and patrol craft, knowing that they could not match the superiority of the American amphibious assault ship and destroyer, backed down. This was followed by a pair of Philippine Air Force F-5E Freedom Fighters based on Basa Air Base in Pampanga, which buzzed the Chinese ships. With the superior show of force, the Chinese peacefully left the area.
Marines land on Mischief Reef
The Filipinos and Americans surrounded the reef until it was determined the Chinese would not attempt to pose a resistance. On February 20, 1995, Philippine Marines accompanied by local village chiefs and some members of the Philippine Congress landed on the Chinese structures on Mischief Reef by RHIB and helicopter. The Marines fast roped down from one of the UH-1 Hueys coming from the BRP Benguet on the structures. They took down the Chinese flag and planted the Philippine flag in its wake. Flags were also planted on the shallow rocks protruding from the water. Mischief Reef was retaken by the Philippines.
Aftermath
The operation was a success for the Philippines. It also proved that China could still not match the Americans in the region. The Chinese leadership at that time would acknowledge that they could not counter anything the Americans would deploy in Asia. Almost a year later in 1996 as the Third Taiwan Strait Crisis occurred, the United States showed the largest show of force in the region not seen since the Vietnam War and the 1988 Dumaguete City Crisis. The standoff at Mischief Reef and the Taiwan Straits proved humiliating for the Chinese. Because of this, the PLA would soon invest in their navy and air force so that they would be able to challenge the U.S. in Asia.
Following the standoff, relations between the China and the Philippines soured. It would only be repaired by the early 2000s. Frequent encounters between Chinese and Filipino warships would continue throughout the 2010s.
In April 2012, another standoff occurred between China and the Philippines over Scarborough Shoal.
Media Coverage
Spratly Islands - China Philippines 'Incident'
AP's coverage of the Mischief Reef standoff aboard BRP Benguet (LS-507).
The incident was covered mainly by Philippine media invited by the AFP aboard the BRP Benguet. The main TV networks focusing on the standoff were ABS-CBN, GMA-7, ABC, and IBC. Journalists from the Philippine Daily Inquirer, the Philippine Star and SunStar were also present aboard the Benguet.
CNN, AP and Reuters were the only foreign media present on the ship. It received a boost the ratings at home and abroad.
In China, the incident was altered by CCTV, Xinhua News, the Global Times, and the People's Daily. Chinese state media portrayed the Filipinos and the Americans as the aggressors and insisted that Mischief Reef "belonged to Chinese territory since ancient times."
International Reactions
Involved Parties
China - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the action of the Filipinos and the Americans. However, the PLA Daily did acknowledge they could have faced the might of the U.S. in the region. Chinese President Jiang Zhemin expressed disappointment to his Filipino counterpart Fidel V. Ramos. Jiang hopes that one day negotiations between the South China Sea dispute would be solved diplomatically.
United States - President Bill Clinton firmly made it clear that the United States would support and defend the Philippines from further reaction. William Cohen, U.S. Secretary of Defense, made a similar statement. In a press conference in the Pentagon, Cohen remarked: "The Republic of the Philippines is a treaty ally of the United States. If attacked or invaded, both parties would come into the defense of each other. Mischief Reef is a territory of the Philippines hence that is why we sen our warships to support the Philippine Navy in reclaiming what belongs to them."
Other Countries
Australia - Australia expressed support for the U.S. and the Philippines and showed concerned for further Chinese aggression in the South China Sea.
Brunei - Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah wished for peaceful solution for the standoff but made a claim that "the Sultanate of Brunei will not backdown on its claims in the region."
Canada - Canada expressed for a peaceful solution.
Indonesia - Indonesia deployed several warships, submarines, and marines to Natuna Islands as precaution. The country wished for a dialogue among the claimant states.
Japan - The Japanese were concerned of what would become of their shipborne trade that passes the South China Sea. However, they did show support to both the U.S. and the Philippines in reclaiming the reef.
Malaysia - Malaysia sent a frigate to defend their claims.
North Korea (DPRK) - Kim Il-sung condemned the action, stating that "America continues its imperialism in Asia."
Russian Federation - The Russian Federation encouraged for a peaceful dialogue between the claimant states.
South Korea - South Korea expressed for dialogue and diplomacy.
Taiwan (ROC) - As a precaution, Taiwan mobilized its forces to defend the its claims. It also condemned the PRC's actions on seizing the reef in 1994 and expressed support to the U.S. and the Philippines. The same year, China would then fire missiles over the Taiwan Strait, resulting in the Third Taiwan Strait Crisis. Taiwan mobilized an even larger force in the face of Chinese aggression and were backed by the United States Navy in March 1996.
Thailand - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs called for restraint.
United Kingdom - The Foreign and Commonwealth Office called for dialogue and openess. However, the Prime Minister did they say he stood with the U.S. and the Philippines with regards to reclaiming the reef.
Vietnam - The Vietnamese were slowly observing the progress of the standoff. Since Vietnam clashed with China in 1988 over the Johnson South Reef, the Vietnamese public mainly supported the Philippines' actions. This event also strengthened U.S.-Vietnam diplomatic relations as the possibility of the arms embargo to be lifted. In addition, the Vietnam People's Army Navy sent some warships to protect its occupied territories in the region.
Units Involved
Philippine Navy
A UH-1 Huey of the PAF lift off from BRP Benguet (LS-507).
BRP Benguet (LS-507), an LST-542-class tank landing ship formerly known as the USS Davies County (LST-692) of the United States Navy.
BRP Miguel Malvar (PS-19), a Miguel Malvar-class corvette.
BRP Quezon (PS-70), a Rizal-class patrol boat formerly known as USS Vigilance (AM-234), a USN Auk-class minesweeper.
1 x Britten-Norman Islander maritime surveillance aircraft.
Philippine Coast Guard
CGC 103
CGC 110
Philippine Air Force
2 x F-5E Freedom Fighters
1 x UH-1 Huey
United States Navy
USS Belleau Wood (LHA-3), a Tarawa-class amphibious assault ship.
USS Reuben James (FFG-57), an Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided missile frigate.
China
Philippines
People's Liberation Army Navy
Philippine Navy
Philippine Air Force
Philippine Coast Guard
United States Navy
China - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the action of the Filipinos and the Americans. However, the PLA Daily did acknowledge they could have faced the might of the U.S. in the region. Chinese President Jiang Zhemin expressed disappointment to his Filipino counterpart Fidel V. Ramos. Jiang hopes that one day negotiations between the South China Sea dispute would be solved diplomatically.
