China warned the Philippines on Monday to tread rigorously and pursue dialogue, saying their relations were at a “crossroads” as recent confrontations between coast guards over maritime claims deepened tensions.
Ted Aljibe | Af | Getty Images
China warned the Philippines on Monday to tread rigorously and pursue dialogue, saying their relations were at a “crossroads” as recent confrontations between coast guards over maritime claims deepened tensions.
It was second such warning by China’s foreign ministry over a three-month period as the two countries openly disputed over territorial claims in the Spratly Islands, a largely uninhabited archipelago in the South China Sea.
The news was delivered by China’s Vice Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong during a phone call with his Filipino counterpart Theresa Lazaro amid growing friction over the issue. quarrels in the Second Thomas Bank in the South China Sea.
In the conversation, Lazaro said in a statement that Manila was “strongest protest against the aggressive actions” of the Chinese coast guard and maritime militia against the Philippine resupply mission in the South China Sea.
Chen said in a statement: “China once again calls on the Philippines to uphold its commitments and consensus, stop its maritime abuses and provocations, cease any unilateral actions that may complicate the situation, and earnestly return to the right track to properly deal with deal with differences through dialogue and consultations with China.”
The Philippines accused China’s coast guard of using water cannons against a civilian boat resupplying troops on Saturday in the Second Thomas Shoal, which it said damaged the boat and injured some of the crew.
It was the latest in series of attacks In the past year.
The Philippines’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned China’s chargé d’affaires to Manila on Monday to protest “aggressive actions” following the incident.
“China’s continued interference in the Philippines’ routine and lawful activities within its own exclusive economic zone (EEZ) is unacceptable,” he said in a separate statement, adding that a diplomatic protest had been lodged with Beijing.
“It violates the sovereign rights and jurisdiction of the Philippines,” he said, demanding that Chinese ships leave the area.
China’s coast guard said on Saturday it was necessary means against Philippine ships entering its waters.
Beijing claims almost the entire South China Sea, including the Second Thomas Bank, which is within the Philippines’ 200-mile (320-kilometer) EEZ.
The Philippines deliberately grounded the old warship in 1999 to shore up its territorial claims, and has maintained a small military contingent there since then.
China’s foreign ministry said on Monday that the Philippines had reneged on its promise to tow the ship, “on many occasions violating commitments made to the Chinese side.”
The Philippines has repeatedly denied making such a commitment and has said it will not abandon its position on Second Thomas Shoal.
China has deployed hundreds of coast guard ships throughout the South China Sea to patrol what it considers its waters, despite a 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in a case brought by Manila that found the claim had no basis in international law. China refused to recognize this result.
Philippine security chiefs convened a high-level meeting on Monday following the reported water cannon incident to prepare recommendations to be addressed to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. regarding further action in the dispute.
Since taking power in 2022, Marcos has taken a tough stance on what he sees as Chinese hostility and rejected Chinese pressure to avoid what he says are maritime facilities.
China views with suspicion Marcos’ efforts to deepen cooperation with the United States, a defense treaty ally, including increasing access for U.S. troops to bases and expanding military exercises to include joint air and sea patrols.
Washington said it stands with the Philippines, condemning China’s “dangerous actions.” Japan, Britain, Germany, France, Canada and Australia also issued statements of support for the Philippines.
“The United States is just not a party to the South China Sea issue, however it has repeatedly intervened and provoked maritime issues between China and the Philippines,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said at a press conference on Monday.
Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro suggested on Monday that China should prove the strength of its maritime claims through arbitration reasonably than equivocation.
“If China is not afraid to present its claims to the world, why don’t we arbitrate under international law?” – Filipino Teodoro told reporters. “No country believes (their claims) and sees it as a way to use force, intimidate and trick the Philippines into their ambitions.”
