On this picture launched by the Armed Forces of the Philippines, a Philippines provide boat, prime left, sails close to a Chinese language coast guard ship, prime proper, and a Chinese language militia vessel off Second Thomas Shoal, domestically referred to as Ayungin Shoal, on the disputed South China Sea on Sunday. AP
Manila stated Monday that Chinese language vessels “intentionally hit” Philippine boats on the weekend, escalating a diplomatic row over two collisions within the South China Sea.
The international locations have traded blame over Sunday’s incidents close to Second Thomas Shoal within the Spratly Islands, with either side submitting diplomatic protests and releasing movies to help their accusations.
The 2 collisions occurred throughout a Philippine resupply mission to troops stationed on a navy vessel that was grounded on the shoal in 1999 to claim Manila’s territorial claims.
Philippine officers accused a Chinese language coastguard ship and a “militia” vessel of “dangerous maneuvering” that resulted in collisions with a Philippine resupply boat and a Philippine Coast Guard vessel.
Philippine Protection Secretary Gilbert Teodoro took it one step additional Monday, labelling the Chinese language actions close to Second Thomas Shoal deliberate.
“Chinese coast guard and maritime militia vessels, in blatant violation of international law, harassed and intentionally hit Unaiza May 2 and Philippine Coast Guard vessel BRP Cabra,” Teodoro stated.
“We are here to really decry in the strongest possible terms this egregious violation and illegal act within the (Philippines’) 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone and the obfuscation of the truth by China’s distorting the story to fit its own ends.”
His feedback got here hours after Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos met with safety officers and ordered the coastguard to research the incident, which was “being taken seriously at the highest level of government”, his communications workforce stated.
Earlier Monday, the Philippine overseas ministry summoned China’s ambassador to Manila, Huang Xilian, and lodged a diplomatic protest over the incident.
Spokeswoman Teresita Daza stated the ambassador was unavailable and was represented by his deputy chief of mission, Zhou Zhiyong.
“Ayungin Shoal is part of our exclusive economic zone and continental shelf and we have sovereign rights and jurisdiction over it,” Daza stated, utilizing the Philippine identify for the shoal.
The Chinese language diplomat made “solemn representations… expressing strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition to the trespassing” by Philippine vessels into the Ren’ai Reef space, the Chinese language embassy stated, utilizing China’s identify for the shoal.
China has stated a “slight collision” occurred after the Philippine resupply boat ignored “multiple warnings and deliberately passed through law enforcement in an unprofessional and dangerous manner”.
Within the different incident, China accused the Philippine Coast Guard of reversing in a “premeditated manner” right into a Chinese language fishing vessel.
Manila’s longtime ally Washington has led a refrain of worldwide criticism of China’s alleged interference within the routine resupply mission to the tiny garrison on the grounded BRP Sierra Madre.
The US State Division on Sunday reiterated its mutual defence pact with the Philippines “extends to armed attacks on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, and aircraft –- including those of its Coast Guard –- anywhere in the South China Sea”.
– ‘Arbitral ruling is binding’ –
China claims virtually your entire South China Sea, via which trillions of {dollars} in commerce passes yearly, and has ignored a 2016 worldwide ruling that its assertion has no authorized foundation.
Second Thomas Shoal is about 200 kilometres (124 miles) from the western Philippine island of Palawan, and greater than 1,000 kilometres from China’s nearest main landmass, Hainan island.
Beforehand heat ties between Manila and Beijing have cooled since Marcos took energy in June 2022, as he seeks stronger relations with the US.
The Marcos administration has publicly criticised Chinese language actions within the South China Sea, publishing images and movies to help its claims of Chinese language harassment and the blocking of its vessels.
Beijing has launched its personal photos of the incidents.
“We do not respond to lies, we only comment on facts,” Jay Tarriela, the Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, stated in a put up on X Monday.
“Our narratives are always backed with compelling images and unedited videos.”
Regardless of the challenges, the Philippines would “continue to do what is necessary” to provide its troops on the BRP Sierra Madre with provisions, stated Jonathan Malaya, assistant director common of the Nationwide Safety Council.
“This is the Philippines implementing the 2016 arbitral ruling,” Malaya advised reporters Monday.
“The arbitral ruling is binding not only to the Philippines but also to China.”
Manila and Beijing have a protracted historical past of maritime disputes within the South China Sea.
Tensions flared in August when China Coast Guard vessels used water cannon towards a Philippine resupply mission to Second Thomas Shoal, stopping one of many boats from delivering its cargo.