China stated on Sunday it had taken “necessary controls” in opposition to Philippines boats that had “illegally” entered what it calls its waters, after Manila accused Beijing’s coast guard of firing water cannon at its vessels within the disputed South China Sea.
“Two repair ships and two coast guard ships from the Philippines illegally broke into the waters… in China’s Nansha Islands,” China Coast Guard (CCG) spokesperson Gan Yu stated, including that Beijing had “implemented necessary controls in accordance with the law and stopped Philippine ships carrying illegal building materials.”
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) stated Sunday the CCG illegally used water cannons in opposition to its vessels that had been crusing for the Ayungin Shoal to resupply the BRP Sierra Madre.
In a press release, PCG condemned CCG’s “dangerous maneuvers and illegal use of water cannons” in opposition to their vessels escorting the indigenous boats chartered by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to ship meals, water, gasoline, and different provides to army troops stationed on the Sierra Madre.
“The PCG calls on the China Coast Guard to restrain its forces, respect the sovereign rights of the Philippines in its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, refrain from hampering freedom of navigation, and take appropriate actions against the individuals involved in this unlawful incident,” PCG Spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela stated.
The PCG pressured that CCG’s transfer not solely disregarded the protection of the PCG crew and the provision boats, but in addition violated worldwide legislation, together with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the 1972 Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS), and the 2016 Arbitral Award.
The Ayungin Shoal is a part of the Kalayaan Island Group, which is an integral a part of the Philippines, in addition to the Philippines’ unique financial zone and continental shelf, over which the Philippines has sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction.
The AFP additionally condemned and expressed concern over the incident, which it referred to as “excessive and offensive.”
“We call on the China Coast Guard and the Central Military Commission to act with prudence and be responsible in their actions to prevent miscalculations and accidents that will endanger peoples’ lives,” AFP stated. — Agence France-Presse
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
