HARASSMENT The Philippine Coast Guard’s BRP Sindangan is blocked by a China Coast Guard vessel throughout a resupply mission to Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal in October. —GERALDFORD TICKE
China ought to first cease its hostile actions at sea earlier than it enters right into a dialogue with the Philippines, an official of the Nationwide Safety Council (NSC) mentioned on Tuesday, amid worsening tensions within the West Philippine Sea.
The territorial disputes between the 2 nations have grown extra tense this yr as Beijing seeks to claim its maritime dominance within the South China Sea.
“Dialogues can solely reach an environment of mutual respect and sincerity between two sovereign nations. The Philippines is able to reciprocate supplied that the bullying, harassment, and aggressive actions are ended instantly,” NSC spokesperson and Assistant Director Normal Jonathan Malaya mentioned in a press release.
Chinese language International Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning on Monday mentioned China was open to a dialogue, stressing her authorities was able to work with the Philippines to deal with maritime points by negotiation and session.
However Mao, on the identical time, asserted Beijing’s claims over almost all the South China Sea, together with these throughout the 370-kilometer unique financial zone (EEZ) of the Philippines.
“China is not going to weaken in its resolve to guard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and pursuits,” she mentioned.
“For months, the Philippines has been making provocations on Ren’ai Jiao (Ayungin Shoal) and different points and drawing forces outdoors the area into these points. China is compelled underneath these circumstances to take essential measures to firmly reply to it,” she mentioned.
Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal is a low-tide elevation throughout the Philippines’ EEZ and continental shelf, one of many nation’s 9 occupied options within the Kalayaan Island Group, or the Spratlys. Chinese language ships have been harassing resupply vessels to BRP Sierra Madre, the grounded warship that serves as a Philippine army outpost in Ayungin.
“We welcome China’s supply of dialogue, negotiation, and session however for it to prosper, China should instantly cease its bullying, aggressive actions, and unlawful strikes within the West Philippine Sea which critically undermine… regional peace and safety,” Malaya mentioned.
A 2016 arbitral ruling voided China’s expansive claims within the South China Sea, however Beijing has refused to acknowledge the choice.
Root of tensions
In accordance with Malaya, China is “the one nation that believes its personal propaganda” and no single nation has expressed help for its so-called 10-dash line that supposedly defines China’s territory.
The boundaries set by China overlap into the unique financial zones of rival claimants just like the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam.
“The foundation of all these tensions is its non-adherence to worldwide legislation, Unclos (United Nations Conference on the Legislation of the Sea), and the 2016 Arbitral Award. Because the world has seen, it isn’t the Philippines that has been engaged in provocations, bullying and aggressive actions within the West Philippine Sea,” Malaya mentioned.
“It’s not the Philippines that has been doing laser pointing, water cannoning, harmful maneuvers, blocking, swarming, and so on. In actual fact, the Philippines has been very restrained and accountable however the identical can’t be mentioned of China,” he mentioned.
Chinese language actions in opposition to Philippine vessels, harassment of fishermen and different actions “that infringe… upon the Philippines’ sovereignty and jurisdiction within the West Philippine Sea are clear violations of worldwide legislation,” he added.
Final week, the highest diplomats of the Philippines and China spoke by phone the place they mentioned the territorial disputes.
The Division of International Affairs mentioned International Secretary Enrique Manalo and his Chinese language counterpart, Wang Yi, “famous the significance of dialogue” in addressing the problems of concern.
Wang earlier accused the Philippines of “continually frightening bother at sea and undermining China’s legit and lawful rights.”
Home legislation
Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar, in the meantime, mentioned Beijing was the one “committing all of the violations” at sea, in response to accusations by China’s state-controlled newspaper, the Individuals’s Day by day, that the Philippines was stirring tensions within the West Philippine Sea.
“The Philippines depends on the help of exterior forces, ignores China’s goodwill and restraint, and repeatedly provokes China’s ideas and backside line,” mentioned the commentary.
However Aguilar, on the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon program by state-run Individuals’s Tv, mentioned: “The Philippines shouldn’t be frightening battle. We comply with worldwide legislation and we’re solely implementing our home legislation, which means the boundaries of our territorial waters and unique financial zone the place now we have sovereign rights.”
He accused China of beginning hostile actions that generally danger collisions at sea.
The Philippines, Aguilar mentioned, is boosting its alliances and has the help of different nations as a result of its claims are backed by worldwide legislation, together with Unclos. —WITH A REPORT FROM REUTERS