Philippines condemns anew China harassment

MANILA – Washington has condemned China’s latest harassment of Philippine vessels in the South China Sea, also known as West Philippine Sea following attempts to stop Filipino vessels from resupplying troops at the BRP Sierra Madre on Ayungin Shoal.

“The United States condemns PRC’s latest disruption of a legal Philippine resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal, putting the lives of Filipino service members at risk. We stand with our #FriendsPartnersAllies in protecting sovereignty and in support of a #FreeAndOpenIndoPacific,” said U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines, MaryKay Carlson, in her post on X, formerly Twitter, referring to the People’s Republic of China. 

The Pentagon also issued a statement saying “the United States stands with our Philippine allies in the face of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) Coast Guard and maritime militia’s dangerous and unlawful actions obstructing an October 22 Philippine resupply mission to Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea.” 

“By conducting dangerous maneuvers that caused collisions with Philippine resupply and Coast Guard ships, the PRC Coast Guard and maritime militia violated international law by intentionally interfering with the Philippine vessels’ exercise of high seas freedom of navigation. PRC conduct jeopardized Filipino crew members’ safety and impeded critically needed supplies from reaching service members stationed at the BRP Sierra Madre. Obstructing supply lines to this long standing outpost and interfering with lawful Philippine maritime operations undermines regional stability,” it said. 

Second Thomas Shoal is a feature well within the Philippine exclusive economic zone and on the Philippine continental shelf. An international tribunal’s July 2016 decision – legally binding on both the Philippines and PRC – made clear that “there exists no legal basis for any entitlement by China to maritime zones in the area of Second Thomas Shoal.” The same ruling affirmed that Second Thomas Shoal is a low-tide elevation outside the territorial sea of another high tide feature – as such, the PRC’s territorial claims to it are unfounded. 

“The unsafe maneuvers on October 22 and the PRC water cannoning of a Philippines’ vessel on August 5 are the latest examples of provocative PRC measures in the South China Sea to enforce its expansive and unlawful maritime claims, reflecting disregard for other states lawfully operating in the region. The United States reaffirms that Article IV of the 1951 U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty extends to armed attacks on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, and aircraft – including those of its Coast Guard – anywhere in the South China Sea,” the Pentagon said. 

Summon

Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo also summoned Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian to condemn the reckless and illegal act of the Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro said.“Likewise, Philippine Ambassador to China Jaime FlorCruz has been instructed to convey the same to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” he said.

Teodoro added that the Philippine Coast Guard has been directed to proceed swiftly with its maritime investigation in accordance with international maritime safety regulations as far as China’s latest aggression is concerned.

He said that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called for a special Command Conference of the national security and defense clusters to discuss the recent incident and to give his guidance to maritime and security agencies.

The Philippine government views the latest aggression by China as a blatant violation of international law, he said, noting that China has no legal right or authority to conduct law enforcement operations in the Philippines’ territorial waters.

“We are taking this incident seriously at the highest level of government. The use by China of brute force behind disingenuous façades necessitates this course of action,” Teodoro said.

“We call on our people to stand behind the Government in executing our constitutional mandate to secure the national interest in the West Philippine Sea,” he added, noting further that the incident occurred within the 200-mile exclusive economic zone of the Philippines where China has no jurisdiction over, authority or right to conduct any operations.

Teodoro said it is a serious escalation of the illegal activities conducted by the Chinese government in the West Philippine Sea and in complete disregard of any norm or convention of international law.

“We also acknowledge the support of our allies and like-minded nations such as the United States, Japan, Australia, Germany, Canada, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and European Union in condemning China’s aggression and expansionist actions,” he said of other countries’ backing.

Chinese Coast Guard and maritime militia vessels harassed and intentionally rammed Unaizah May 2 and PCG vessel BRP Cabra while conducting a legitimate rotation and re-supply mission within the Philippine exclusive economic zone, which is a blatant violation of international law. (Mindanao Examiner)