China on Monday accused the Philippines of looking for to “permanently occupy” the Ayungin Shoal and once more raised its demand for the removing of BRP Sierra Madre in what it known as Ren’ai Jiao.
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued the assertion as a part of its touch upon the US State Department’s assertion which criticized China over its ships blocking Philippine boats on a resupply mission for the Navy vessel.
“The historical context of the issue of Ren’ai Jiao is very clear. In 1999, the Philippines sent a military vessel and deliberately ran it aground at Ren’ai Jiao, attempting to change the status quo of Ren’ai Jiao illegally,” the assertion learn
“China immediately made serious démarches to the Philippines, demanding the removal of the vessel. The Philippines promised several times to tow it away but has yet to act. Not only that, the Philippines sought to overhaul and reinforce the military vessel in order to permanently occupy Ren’ai Jiao,” it added.
The BRP Sierra Madre has been on the Ayungin Shoal since 1999. The ship manned by greater than a dozen Marines and sailors has turn into an emblem of Philippine sovereignty within the offshore territory.
Ayungin is situated 105.77 nautical miles from the closest Philippine province of Palawan and constitutes a part of the nation’s 200-nautical mile continental shelf as offered below the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Over the weekend, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) mentioned the Chinese Coast Guard used “dangerous maneuvers and illegal use of water cannons” towards vessels of the coast guard which had been escorting indigenous boats to ship meals, water, gasoline, and different provides to navy troops stationed on the BRP Sierra Madre.
Several international locations — led by the United States, Australia, Japan, and Canada — expressed assist for Manila and criticized China’s actions, the newest within the string of a number of reported incidents of harassment towards Philippine vessels this 12 months.
Beijing claimed that the Philippine ships intruded into the Ayungin Shoal and violated their legal guidelines when it carried out the availability mission.
“On August 5, in disregard of China’s repeated dissuasion and warning, the Philippines sent two vessels that intruded into the adjacent waters of Ren’ai Jiao and tried to deliver the construction materials for overhauling and reinforcing the grounded military vessel,” the overseas ministry assertion mentioned.
“The CCG vessels stopped them in accordance with law and warned them off through appropriate law enforcement measures. Their maneuvers were professional, restrained, and beyond reproach,” it added.
China additionally reiterated its rejection of the Philippines’ 2016 and additional alleged the US is sowing “confusion and discord” over its assist to Manila.
“The South China Sea arbitration was a pure political drama staged in the name of the law with the US pulling strings behind the scenes. The so-called award contravenes international laws, including UNCLOS, and is illegal, null and void,” the assertion learn.
“We urge the US to stop utilizing the South China Sea issue to sow confusion and discord, and we urge it to respect China’s territorial sovereignty, maritime rights, and interests in the South China Sea, and respect regional countries’ efforts to uphold peace and stability in this region,” it added.
No ‘gray area’
Retired Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio mentioned there was no “gray area” within the discussions over the Philippines and China’s claims within the West Philippine Sea because the Permanent Arbitration Court ruling in The Hague in 2016 upheld Manila’s claims within the resource-rich waters and rejected Beijing’s expansive nine-dash declare.
“Walang gray area kasi may ruling na tayo at sinabi ng arbitral tribunal, Ayungin Shoal is a low-tide elevation, low tide feature and forms part of the EEZ of the Philippines,” mentioned Carpio.
“It forms part of the EEZ. Under UNCLOS [United Nations Convention for the Law of the Sea], only the coastal state, only the Philippines can put up a structure there. And no country can stop us from putting up a structure there. China has no right whatsoever to stop us because that’s our exclusive economic zone,” he added.
The Philippines ought to name on United Nations (UN) member-states to sentence China’s actions because it violates the UN Charter and UNCLOS, in response to Carpio.
“That is considered, that’s a threat of force. Bawal. The UN Charter prohibits states from settling disputes by threat or use of force. All disputes must be settled by negotiation, mediation, arbitration, and judicial settlement. That’s the basic principle, foundation of the UN Charter,” he added.
GMA Integrated News sought remark from Malacañang but it surely has but to reply.
In July 2016, the UN Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, based mostly on a case filed by the Philippines, junked China’s nine-dash line declare protecting your complete South China Sea, together with the West Philippine Sea. China has refused to acknowledge the ruling. —NB, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
