Philippine Coast Guard law enforcement officers stand aboard the BRP Bagacay during a farewell ceremony in Manila on May 20, 2024.
Ted Aljibe | Afp | Getty Images
China on Monday accused Philippine vessels of “illegally” entering and colliding with one of its vessels in waters near Escoda Shoal, in the latest territorial dispute between the two countries.
According to one declare According to the China Coast Guard, one of the Philippine vessels acted in an “unprofessional and dangerous manner”, ignoring repeated warnings and deliberately colliding with a Chinese vessel.
“We warn the Philippines to immediately stop its infringement and provocation, otherwise the Philippines will have to bear all consequences arising from this,” the statement said.
Videos posted on the China Coast Guard website appear to Show collision.
Escoda Shoal, also known as Sabina Shoal and Xianbin Reef, is located in the Spratly Islands of the South China Sea. It is the site of a standoff between China and the Philippines. since Aprilwhen one of the largest ships of the Philippine Coast Guard, the BRP Teresa Magbanua, was sent there.
On Friday, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said Beijing had Philippines warning “cease all illegal activities” and withdraw the vessel from the waters.
Philippine Coast Guard spokesman Jay Tarriela Beijing’s claims dispute on social media, reply to a parcel from Chinese state newspaper Global Times challenging Manila’s presence in the sea.
“Escoda Shoal is within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone, as defined by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 2016 arbitral award,” Tarriela said.
“Philippine Coast Guard vessels have the right to operate in the Escoda Shoal lagoon for as long as necessary without having to seek permission from any other country,” he added.
According to Tarriela, the Philippine Coast Guard deployed its vessels not to provoke or escalate tensions but to protect and preserve their sovereign rights over the waters.
Tensions between China and the Philippines have been escalating in the Spratly Islands for months.
The waters around another disputed area, Second Thomas Shoal, have seen Philippine vessels rammed and water cannon fired at them.. In one case, China confiscated According to Philippine authorities, the Philippine boat injured a Navy serviceman on board.
Last month, China and the Philippines reached a provisional agreement on the disputed Second Thomas Shoal. However, both sides quickly began publicly disagree on the terms of the agreement.
Meanwhile, last week the Philippines accused the Chinese Air Force of carrying out dangerous moves on the nearby Scarborough Shoal.
Beijing’s actions have drawn condemnation from the Philippines’ allies including the United States, which has mutual defense treaty with the country
On Friday, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo reported tried to quell China’s concerns about the presence of a talented American missile system in the Philippines, saying it posed no threat to China and would not destabilize the region. In July, the United States pledged $500 million in military aid to the country.
The Philippines has also expanded military cooperation with Japan.
Zhang Xiaogang, spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of National Defense said on fridaythat defense cooperation among the Philippines, the United States and Japan should not be directed at any third party or disrupt regional peace and stability.
“The Philippines is inviting wolves into its home and is willing to act as their pawns, which is being looked down upon by other countries in the region,” he added.
