China warned the Philippines on Monday to act cautiously and seek dialogue, saying relations between the two countries have reached a “crossroads” as tensions escalate between the Chinese coast guard over maritime claims.
Ted Algibi | AFP | Getty Images
China warned the Philippines on Monday to act cautiously and seek dialogue, saying relations between the two countries have reached a “crossroads” as tensions escalate between the Chinese coast guard over maritime claims.
This is the second warning of its kind issued by the Chinese Foreign Ministry within three months, in light of a public dispute between the two countries over territorial claims in the Spratly Islands, an uninhabited archipelago in the South China Sea.
The message was delivered by Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong during a phone call with her Philippine counterpart Teresa Lazaro amid worsening friction over quarrels at Thomas Shoal II in the South China Sea.
In the call, Lazaro conveyed Manila's “strongest protest against the aggressive actions” by the Chinese Coast Guard and maritime militia against the Philippine resupply mission in the South China Sea, the ministry said in a statement.
“China once again urges the Philippines to respect its commitments and consensuses, stop its maritime violations and provocations, stop any unilateral actions that may complicate the situation, and seriously return to the right track of properly addressing differences through dialogue,” Chen said in a statement. And consultation with China.”
The Philippines accused the Chinese Coast Guard of using water cannons against a civilian boat supplying troops on Saturday at Second Thomas Shoal, damaging the boat and injuring some crew members.
This was the latest in a series of clashes that took place last year.
The Philippine Foreign Ministry summoned the Chinese Chargé d'Affaires in Manila on Monday to protest the “aggressive actions” following the incident.
“China’s continued interference in the Philippines’ routine and legal activities in its exclusive economic zone is unacceptable,” she said in a separate statement, adding that a diplomatic protest had been lodged in Beijing.
“It violates the sovereign rights and jurisdiction of the Philippines,” she added, demanding Chinese ships to leave the area.
The Chinese Coast Guard said on Saturday that it has taken the necessary measures against Philippine ships that enter its waters.
Beijing claims almost the entire South China Sea, including Second Thomas Shoal, which lies within the Philippines' 200-mile (320 km) exclusive economic zone.
The Philippines deliberately parked an old warship in shallow waters in 1999 as a way to bolster its territorial claims, and has maintained a small army contingent there ever since.
China's Foreign Ministry said on Monday that the Philippines had reneged on its promise to withdraw the ship, “violating the commitments it made to the Chinese side on numerous occasions.”
The Philippines has repeatedly denied making any such commitment and said it will not abandon its position on Second Thomas Shoal.
China has deployed hundreds of coast guard vessels throughout the South China Sea to patrol what it considers its waters, despite a 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling in a case brought by Manila that said the claim had no basis under international law. China has refused to acknowledge this result.
Philippine security leaders held a high-level meeting on Monday over the reported water cannon incident to prepare recommendations to present to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on ways forward in the conflict.
Since taking power in 2022, Marcos has adopted a hard line against what he sees as Chinese hostility and has rejected Chinese pressure to move away from the maritime features it claims.
China views Marcos' efforts to deepen engagement with its defense treaty ally the United States, including increasing access to bases for US forces and expanding military exercises to include joint air and sea patrols, viewed with suspicion.
Washington said it stands with the Philippines in its condemnation of China's “dangerous actions.” Japan, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Canada and Australia also issued statements of support for the Philippines.
“The United States is not a party to the South China Sea issue, but it has repeatedly intervened and raised maritime issues between China and the Philippines,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said in a press conference on Monday.
Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro suggested Monday that China prove the strength of its maritime claims through arbitration, rather than through ambiguity.
“If China is not afraid to announce its claims to the world, why not arbitrate under international law?” Filipino Teodoro told reporters. “No one believes (their claims) and they see this as their way to use force, intimidate and subjugate the Philippines to their ambitions,” he added.
