Manila accused Beijing of utilizing ?extreme? pressure throughout a standoff in contested waters final week
The Chinese Foreign Ministry weighed in on the encounter on Tuesday, days after Philippines officers mentioned Beijing carried out “aggressive maneuvers” in opposition to a pair of ships trying to deliver provides to the contested atoll within the South China Sea.
The ministry said that Ren’ai Jiao – recognized to Manila because the Second Thomas Shoal – is a part of China, additionally noting {that a} Philippines navy vessel has been “illegally” grounded on the island for many years regardless of vows to take away the purposely marooned ship.
“Twenty-four years have passed and instead of towing it away, the Philippines has sought to repair and reinforce it on a large scale in order to permanently occupy Ren’ai Jiao,” a ministry spokesman mentioned in a press release, including that the mission “gravely violates international law.”
Though the Philippines was awarded rights to the atoll in 2016 as a part of the South China Sea Arbitration, a course of mediated below worldwide maritime legislation, Beijing has declined to acknowledge the ruling, calling it “illegal, null and void.” In its response to Manila’s fees on Tuesday, the Foreign Ministry reiterated that “China does not accept or recognize” the choice, “and will never accept any claim or action based on the award.”
Following the run-in final Saturday, the Philippines navy mentioned a China Coast Guard vessel acted “in wanton disregard of the safety of the people on board” the 2 provide ships, condemning its “excessive and offensive” use of a water cannon. It urged Beijing to “act with prudence and be responsible in their actions to prevent miscalculations and accidents that will endanger people’s lives.”
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The US, an in depth associate to Manila, later commented on the incident, warning that it could defend its ally from any armed assault, whereas declaring that the Chinese ship “interfered with the Philippines’ lawful exercise of high seas freedom of navigation.” Japan and Australia issued related statements, with Canberra calling Beijing’s actions “dangerous and destabilizing.”
The People’s Republic has lengthy condemned US and allied navy motion within the South China Sea, and warned Washington to remain out of territorial disputes within the area. US officers have nonetheless continued to denounce Beijing’s actions in contested areas, whereas American warships have launched into near-monthly ‘freedom of navigation’ missions since President Joe Biden took workplace in 2021.
(RT.com)