Philippine Coast Guard legislation enforcement command personnel stand aboard the BRP Bagacay throughout a send-off ceremony in Manila on Might 20, 2024.
Ted Aljibe | Afp | Getty Photos
China on Monday accused Philippine vessels of “illegally” intruding and colliding with one among their ships in waters close to the Escoda Shoal, within the newest territorial spat between the 2 international locations.
In response to a assertion by the Chinese language Coast Guard, one of many Philippine vessels acted in an “unprofessional and dangerous” method, ignoring repeated warnings and intentionally colliding with a Chinese language ship.
“We warn the Philippines to immediately stop its infringement and provocation, otherwise all the consequences arising from this will be borne by the Philippines,” the assertion mentioned.
Movies posted to the Chinese language Coast Guard’s web site appeared to present the collision.
The Escoda Shoal, also called Sabina Shoal and Xianbin Reef, is positioned within the Spratly Islands of the South China Sea. It has been the positioning of a standoff between China and the Philippines since April, when one of many Philippine Coast Guard’s largest ships, the BRP Teresa Magbanua, was despatched there.
On Friday, a Chinese language international ministry spokesperson mentioned that Beijing had warned the Philippines to “stop its infringement activities” and withdraw its vessel from the waters.
Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Jay Tarriela disputed Beijing’s claims on social media, responding to a publish from Chinese language state-controlled outlet International Instances that challenged Manila’s presence within the waters.
“Escoda Shoal is located within the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Philippines, in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 2016 arbitral award,” Tarriela mentioned.
“Our Philippine Coast Guard vessels have the right to operate within the lagoon of Escoda Shoal for as long as necessary, without requiring permission from any other country,” he added.
In response to Tarriela, the Philippine Coast Guard had deployed their vessel to not provoke or escalate tensions however fairly to guard and safeguard their sovereign rights over the waters.
Tensions between China and the Philippines have been escalating within the Spratly Islands for months.
Waters round one other disputed space, the Second Thomas Shoal, have seen Philippine vessels rammed and sprayed with water cannons. In a single occasion, China seized Filipino boats, injuring an onboard Navy personnel, in line with Philippine authorities.
Final month, China and the Philippines reached a provisional settlement over the disputed Second Thomas Shoal. Nevertheless, each side rapidly started to publicly disagree over the phrases of the deal.
In the meantime, the Philippines final week accused China’s Air Drive of finishing up harmful maneuvers over the close by Scarborough Shoal.
Beijing’s actions have drawn condemnation from Philippine allies together with the U.S., which has a mutual protection pact with the nation.
On Friday, Overseas Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo reportedly tried to quell Chinese language considerations over the presence of a U.S.-gifted missile system within the Philippines, saying it posed no risk to China and wouldn’t destabilize the area. In July, the U.S. pledged $500 million in army help to the nation.
The Philippines has additionally expanded its army cooperation with Japan.
Zhang Xiaogang, a spokesperson for China’s protection ministry mentioned on Friday, that protection cooperation between the Philippines, U.S. and Japan shouldn’t goal any third occasion or disrupt regional peace and stability.
“The Philippines are inviting wolves into the house and willingly acting as their pawns, which is despised by other regional countries,” he added.
