The United States has backed the Philippines over the most recent assault of the China Coast Guard (CCG) in opposition to the vessels of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) en path to Ayungin Shoal for a resupply mission, saying that it instantly threatens the peace and stability within the area.
The US Department of State mentioned that the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) firing of water cannons and using unsafe blocking maneuvers in opposition to PCG vessels on Saturday “interfered with the Philippines’ lawful exercise of high seas freedom of navigation and jeopardized the safety of the Philippine vessels and crew.”
“Such actions by the PRC are inconsistent with international law and are the latest in repeated threats to the status quo in the South China Sea, directly threatening regional peace and stability. By impeding necessary provisions from reaching the Filipino service members stationed at Second Thomas Shoal, the PRC has also undertaken unwarranted interference in lawful Philippine maritime operations,” US mentioned in an announcement.
The PCG on Sunday 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 navy troops stationed on BRP Sierra Madre within the Ayungin Shoal.
The AFP additionally condemned and expressed concern concerning the incident, which it referred to as “excessive and offensive.”
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.
Citing the 2016 arbitration ruling, the US pressured that China “has no lawful claim to the maritime area around Second Thomas Shoal, which is located well within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.”
“The United States reiterates, pursuant to the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention, the arbitral decision is final and legally binding on the PRC and the Philippines. The United States calls upon the PRC to abide by the arbitral ruling as well as to respect the freedom of navigation – a right to which all states are entitled,” it added.
The US additionally reaffirmed that an armed assault on Philippine public vessels, plane, and armed forces would invoke mutual protection commitments underneath Article IV of the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty of the Philippines and US.
Australia
Australia joined the US in expressing deep concern over China’s aggressive motion in opposition to Philippine resupply vessels en path to Ayungjn Shoal.
Australian Ambassador H.Ok. Yu referred to as the acts directed in opposition to the Philippines “dangerous and destabilizing.”
“We reiterate our call for peace, stability, and respect for UNCLOS in the South China Sea – a vital international waterway,” Yu mentioned in a put up on Twitter on Sunday.
UNCLOS stands for the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which extends the territorial jurisdiction of maritime states as much as 200 nautical miles from its coasts. It is signed by at the least 162 nations together with Philippines and China.
GMA News Online has contacted the China Embassy for an announcement nevertheless it has but to obtain a reply.
The Philippine authorities sued China earlier than a global arbitral tribunal in The Hague in 2013. It dominated in favor of the Philippines in July 2016 when it junked China’s nine-dash declare over the South China Sea.
China, nevertheless, rejected the Philippines’ name to adjust to the 2016 arbitration ruling, calling the choice “illegal and invalid.” —with a report from Michaela del Callar/KG, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
