South China Sea: US blasts 'aggressive' China over clash with Philippine ship | CNN

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CNN
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The United States on Monday condemned China for clashing with the Philippines in the disputed South China Sea, the latest in a series of escalating tensions that have raised the prospect of a flashpoint for global conflict in the vital waterway.

A Chinese ship and a Philippine supply vessel collided early Monday off Thomas Shoal II in the contested Spratly Islands, according to statements from both countries, which blamed each other for the incident.

China claims “undisputed sovereignty” over almost the entire South China Sea and most of the islands and sandbars within it, many of which feature several hundred miles from the Chinese mainland. Multiple governments, including Manila, have competing claims.

In a post on X, Maryke Carlson, Washington's ambassador to Manila, said the U.S Condemnation China's “aggressive, dangerous tactics,” which “caused bodily harm” and “damaged Philippine vessels.”

Neither the Philippines nor China reported injuries or damage in the clash, which comes weeks after Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to warn The death of a Filipino citizen at the hands of another country in the South China Sea would be “too close” to war.

Marcos has sought closer ties with the United States, which has repeatedly emphasized Washington's “ironclad commitment” to the 1951 mutual defense treaty between the United States and the Philippines that would help both sides defend each other if attacked by a third party.

Monday's incident is the latest in a string of recent clashes between Manila and Beijing that have raised concerns among Western observers that China, a global power, could potentially develop into an international incident if it decides to take more forceful action against the Philippines.

US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said “The United States stands with its ally the Philippines and condemns China's escalating and irresponsible actions” on Monday.

Meanwhile, Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell discussed the conflict with Philippine Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs Maria Theresa Lazaro on Monday.

According to the State Department's readout, China has “prevented the Philippines from conducting lawful maritime operations in the South China Sea to interfere with the Philippines' freedom of navigation,” Campbell said.

The latest incident marks the first run-in between the two countries since a new law in China took effect Saturday allowing its coast guard to seize foreign vessels and detain crews suspected of intrusion for up to 60 days without trial.

The Chinese coast guard said on Monday that a Philippine supply vessel “ignored China's repeated warnings” and “willfully and dangerously” approached a Chinese vessel in an “unprofessional manner”, leading to the collision.

“The Philippines is fully responsible for this,” the coast guard said in a statement, an allegation dismissed as “deceptive and misleading” by the Philippine military.

Instead, Philippine authorities accused the Chinese vessels of engaging in “dangerous maneuvers” that included “ramming and towing” of Philippine vessels.

A statement In X, Philippine military spokeswoman Col. Francel Margaret Padilla said, “The main issue is the illegal presence and activities of Chinese vessels within the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines, which violates our sovereignty and sovereign rights.”

'Dangerous and Reckless Conduct'

In 2016, an international tribunal in The Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines in a landmark maritime dispute, concluding that China had no legal basis to claim historical rights to much of the South China Sea.

But Beijing ignored the ruling. Instead it increasingly pushed its territorial claims to strategically important and resource-rich waterways. Over the past year, Chinese coast guard ships – reinforced by maritime militia boats – have been involved in a series of skirmishes that have damaged Philippine vessels and seen Filipino sailors wounded by water cannon.

Known as Ayungin Shoal in the Philippines and Renai Jiao in China, Second Thomas Shoal is a submerged teardrop-shaped reef located about 200 kilometers (125 mi) off the Philippine island of Palawan.

It is located in the Spratly Islands, a mostly uninhabited archipelago where oil and gas reserves have been found and is claimed by China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.

The Philippine ship was on a mission on Monday to supply its troops stationed on the BRP Sierra Madre, a rusted US-built Philippine Navy landing craft that was deliberately set adrift in 1999, with a national flag hoisted on board, on the Second Thomas Shoal to ensure Philippine territory. demands.

China's coast guard spokesman Gan Yu on Monday accused the Philippines of “illegally” supplying the stranded warship.

In a statement, Gan said the Chinese coast guard had taken measures against the Philippine vessel, including “warning and interception, boarding inspection and forced evacuation”, adding the Chinese side had handled the incident in a “reasonable, legal and professional” manner.

“We again warn the Philippines: Any violation and provocation is futile. The Chinese Coast Guard is on full alert and firmly prepared to protect national territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests,” Gan said.

While his team quickly issued statements and visuals, departing from past clashes with China, Philippine Coast Guard spokesman Commodore Jay Tariella had no comment on the clash to CNN.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines also declined to provide details about the latest run-in.

Instead, Philippine officials issued broad statements condemning China's actions.

“China's dangerous and reckless behavior in the West Philippine Sea will be countered by (the Armed Forces of the Philippines). Their behavior is contrary to their statement of good faith and decency,” said Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr

“We will do our best to fulfill our sworn mandate to protect our territorial integrity, sovereignty and sovereign rights. It should now be clear to the international community that China's actions are a real obstacle to peace and stability in the South China Sea.”