US, other nations condemn intentional ramming by China
THE Armed Forces yesterday said a member of the Philippine Navy suffered severe injury amid reports that one of eight injured troops lost a finger in a collision Monday between Philippine and Chinese ships in the West Philippine Sea during a resupply mission.
China and the Philippines have accused each other of being at fault for the incident at Ayungin Shoal, which the military called an “intentional high-speed ramming” by the Chinese coast guard.
“The CCG’s (Chinese Coast Guard’s) continued aggressive behavior and unprofessional conduct towards a legitimate humanitarian mission is unacceptable,” said Col. Xerxes Trinidad, chief of the military’s public affairs office.
The US and several other nations condemned the “escalatory and irresponsible actions” of China in harassing and blocking Filipino vessels in the resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas Shoal). The US reiterated its commitment under the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty to defend the Philippines.
Trinidad said China’s harassment of a Philippine resupply mission is “unacceptable.”
“They must restrain themselves to avoid escalating tensions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS),” he said.
On the injured, Trinidad said, “A Philippine Navy personnel sustained severe injury after the CCG’s intentional high-speed ramming during the rotation and resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre at Ayungin Shoal on June 17.”
“The injured personnel has been safely evacuated and received prompt medical treatment,” he added.
Filipino troops assigned at Ayungin Shoal are staying at the BRP Sierra Madre, a rusting Navy ship, which was intentionally grounded at the shoal in 1999 to serve as military outpost.
Trinidad reiterated the military’s commitment to maintain presence in the West Philippine Sea, “adhering to international law to protect our seas, our rights, and our future.”
On Monday, China’s coast guard said a Philippine Navy vessel deliberately and dangerously approached a Chinese ship in an unprofessional manner, forcing it to take control measures such as “warnings and blockades, boarding inspections, and forced evictions.”
The Philippines said China’s account was “deceptive and misleading.”
China claims almost the entire South China Sea, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Brunei.
A 2016 arbitral ruling rejected China’s historical claims to the resource-rich waterway, a decision Beijing has rejected.
China defended the action of its vessels and accused the Philippines of intruding into its waters.
“On June 17, one supply vessel and two speed boats of the Philippines, without permission from the Chinese government, intruded into waters near Ren’ai Jiao in China’s Nansha Qundao in an attempt to send materials, including construction materials, to the military vessel illegally grounded at Ren’ai Jiao,” China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Lin Jian said in a briefing in Beijing Monday night.
Lin said their coast guard has no other recourse but to “took necessary control measures to stop the Philippine vessels in accordance with the law.”
Palawan News, quoting unnamed sources, said eight soldiers were injured in the incident, one of them lost a finger.
It said six Philippine vessels were involved in the resupply mission and all were not able to reach the shoal due to the Chinese harassment.
It said the Chinese forces boarded the vessels and confiscated eight firearms from soldiers aboard one of the — a rigid-hulled inflatable boat.
Palawan News also reported that the Chinese rammed the “main vessel” in the resupply mission. It said it was towed after being surrounded by Chinese vessels and taken far away to hinder rescue efforts.
Philippine military officials were mum on the reported boarding, and confiscation of firearms.
PROVOCATIONS
The US State Department called the incident the latest in a series of Chinese “provocations” to impede supplies from reaching the BRP Sierra Madre.
Canada and United Kingdom also condemned China’s actions, while France and Japan have expressed concern over the incident.
US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said: “People’s Republic of China vessels’ dangerous and deliberate use of water cannons, ramming, blocking maneuvers, and towing damaged Philippine vessels, endangered the lives of Philippine service members, is reckless, and threatens regional peace and stability.”
“Beijing’s actions reflect consistent disregard for the safety of Filipinos and for international law in the South China Sea,” he added.
Miller stressed that China had no right to waters around Ayungin Shoal as it is clearly within Manila’s 200-mile exclusive economic zone.
“As unanimously decided by an international tribunal in July 2016, the PRC has no lawful maritime claims to the waters around Second Thomas Shoal — a low-tide feature clearly within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. As provided under the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention, the decision is final and legally binding on the PRC and the Philippines,” Miller said, referring to the ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration which dismissed Beijing’s sweeping claim in the South China Sea under its so-called nine-dash line as having no legal nor historical basis.
Earlier, US Ambassador to Manila MaryKay Carlson condemned Beijing’s “aggressive, dangerous maneuvers near Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal, which caused bodily injury, damaged Philippine vessels, and hindered lawful maritime operations to supply food, water, and essential supplies to personnel within the Philippine exclusive economic zone. We stand by our allies for a free, open Indo-Pacific region.”
The ambassadors of Japan, European Union, Canada, United Kingdom, France Germany, and Finland also condemned Chinese action against Philippine vessels.
“Japan reiterates its grave concern over the repeated dangerous and aggressive actions by Chinese Coast Guard which put Philippine personnel at risk and damaged Philippine boats,” Japanese Ambassador Endo Kazuya said.
He said Tokyo will stand with Manila and cooperate with like-minded countries in “maintaining and enhancing the free and open international order based on the rule of law.”
DISRUPTIVE
European Union Ambassador Luc Veron said the 26-member bloc is concerned about what is happening in the South China Sea amid Chinese aggressive activities.
“These actions have caused harm, damaged Philippine vessels and disrupted lawful maritime operations in the Philippine exclusive economic zone. The EU opposes coercion and intimidation in the South China Sea, or anywhere,” Veron said, adding that they support international law and peaceful resolution of dispute.
UK Ambassador Laure Beaufils also condemned what she said are “dangerous” actions by Chinese vessels against Philippine vessels.
“This interfered with navigational freedoms and escalated tensions. The UK reiterates its call for adherence to United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea for all activities in the oceans and seas,” she added.
French Ambassador Marie Fontanel said Paris is “seriously concerned” following the latest incident in the South China Sea, as she reiterated call for respect of UNCLOS and freedom of navigation.
“We oppose any threat or use of force contrary to international law and recall the importance of resolving disputes through dialogue,” she said.
German Ambassador Andreas Pfaffer and Canadian Ambassador David Hartmann echoed the call of their colleagues.
“Germany is seriously concerned about dangerous action of Chinese vessels near Second Thomas Shoal against resupply missions of the Philippines in its exclusive economic zone. We reiterate our call for a peaceful resolution of disputes and full respect of UNCLOS and international law, including the 2016 arbitral award,” Pfaffer said.
Hartmann said Chinese actions against Philippine vessels are “dangerous and destabilizing” and put at risk stability, security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.
“China’s actions are inconsistent with its obligations under international law, including UNCLOS. We call on China to implement the 2016 arbitral ruling, which is final and binding to all parties,” Hartmann said.
The ambassador of Finland and the embassy of Sweden also joined in the call for China to cease its aggressive actions.
“For Finland, I express my concern about these dangerous maneuvers and reiterate my call for respect for international law,” Finnish Ambassador Juha Pyyko said.
“We are concerned by the incident causing damages to Philippine vessels. We call for full respect of the UN Charter, the UNCLOS, and the 2016 Arbitration Award and other relevant regulations,” the Swedish Embassy said.
The incident on Monday took place as China’s new coast guard rules took effect over the weekend.
Under the rules, the Chinese coast guard can detain foreigners for up to 60 days for alleged trespassing in Beijing-claimed waters.
BOARDING
The Chinese newspaper China Daily said Chinese Coast Guard personnel “boarded, inspected and drove away” Philippine vessels during the resupply mission.
It said it was the first time the Chinese Coast Guard conducted onboard inspection of Philippine vessels.
It quoted Chinese Coast Guard spokesman Gan Yu as saying Philippines violated its commitments by dispatching a supply ship and inflatable boats to Ayungin Shoal, which China calls as Ren’ai Reef, to deliver supplies to Filipino troops in the area.
Gan claimed the Philippine supply ship “dangerously approached and deliberately collided” with a normally navigating Chinese vessel.
It said the Philippine vessels were later forcibly driven away.
FISHING BOATS
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said the number of Filipino fishing boats at Scarborough Shoal, also known as Bajo de Masinloc, has increased to 10 as it stressed Filipino are able to freely fish in the area.
PCG spokesman for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela made the statement yesterday, or three days after China’s new policy against trespassers in the South China Sea took effect.
The policy allows the Chinese Coast Guard to detain supposed intruders for up to 60 days.
Chinese Coast Guard and maritime militia vessels have maintained constant presence at the shoal since China gained control of it in 2012 after a standoff with Philippine government vessels.
Tarriela said three Filipino fishing boats were initially monitored at the vicinity of the shoal last Saturday and eventually rose to six.
“This morning, it was reported to us that the number of Filipino fishing boats at the vicinity of Bajo de Masinloc increased to 10,” said Tarriela.
“There are 10 Filipino fishing boats able to freely fish at Bajo de Masinloc,” he said.
Tarriela said there are three Chinese Coast Guard vessels in the area, from four prior to last Saturday.
“If China is really serious in enforcing this new regulation of the China Coast Guard, they should have increased the number of their China Coast Guard vessels there,” said Tarriela.
“China is just that new regulation as an empty threat to discourage Filipino fishermen (from going to Scarborough Shoal)….Their intention is to discourage Filipino fishermen and other Southeast Asian fishermen from going to the (area) which the Chinese said belongs to them,” said Tarriela. — With Ashzel Hachero and Reuters
