In the latest maritime encounters, on Sunday, Chinese vessels obstructed Philippine boats supplying forces in the South China Sea. China and the Philippines exchanged accusations over a collision in disputed waters of the South China Sea.
In recent months, there have been multiple run-ins between the two nations in the South China Sea, particularly close to the disputed Second Thomas Shoal, which is a part of the Spratly Islands. A rusting World War II-era transport ship serving as an outpost on the shoal has been receiving supplies from the Philippines, which has forced China’s coastguard to deploy vessels on multiple occasions to obstruct the resupply missions.
Early on Sunday, as the coastguard of China was “lawfully” preventing the Philippine boat from delivering “illegal construction materials” to the warship, there was a “slight collision” between one of its ships and the boat carrying the Filipinos.
In response, Manila denounced the Chinese vessel’s “dangerous blocking maneuvers” “in the strongest degree”. Manila’s Task Force for the West Philippine Sea issued a statement claiming that China’s “dangerous, irresponsible, and illegal actions” were “in violation of Philippine sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction”.
Nearly the whole South China Sea is under Beijing’s sovereignty, including a portion of the exclusive economic zones of Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei. The Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016 said China’s claims had no legal basis.
According to the Chinese foreign ministry, “China has maintained great restraint and patience on the issue” as of Sunday. According to a statement from the ministry, China has long maintained intensive communication with Manila, which has disregarded China’s goodwill.
China declared that it will keep taking the required actions to protect its territorial sovereignty in compliance with both domestic and international laws.
The US took a stance in favor of its ally, the Philippines. China has been engaging in “harassment” of its neighbors in the South China Sea, according to a statement released by the U.S. State Department on Sunday. The statement called China’s actions “dangerous and unlawful.”
The Canadian and Japanese embassies in Manila conveyed their concern about the collision and their support for the Philippines as well. “These incidents, their repetition and intensification are dangerous and very disturbing,” stated Luc Veron, ambassador of the European Union.
Under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who has increased military engagement with Washington since taking office last year, Manila’s relations with Beijing have deteriorated. In May, the Pentagon declared that it would defend the Philippines “anywhere in the South China Sea” from attacks on its coast guard.
The Philippine military issued a demand last week that China cease its “dangerous and offensive” actions following the shadowing and attempted cutting off of a Philippine navy vessel that was on a resupply mission.
According to Manila, the collision on Sunday happened while a boat hired by the Philippine military was on a routine replenishment mission. A Chinese maritime militia vessel reportedly bumped the port side of a Philippine coastguard vessel in another incident that occurred during the same resupply mission.
The task force stated that the actions of the Chinese coast guard vessel “imperiled the safety of the crew” of the Philippine boat. The Philippine ship disregarded numerous warnings, crossed the Chinese ship’s bow, and “deliberately provoked trouble,” according to a statement from China’s coast guard, which resulted in the collision.
“The Philippine’s behavior seriously violates the international rules on avoiding collisions at sea and threatens the navigation safety of our vessels,” the coastguard stated. As part of its sovereignty claim to the Second Thomas Shoal, which is located within its 200-mile exclusive economic zone, Manila grounded the BRP Sierra Madre warship in 1999.
- Published By Team Genuine Reporter