MANILA/SHANGHAI – China’s Coast Guard said it had taken control measures against Philippine vessels in disputed waters of the South China Sea on March 23, while the Philippine Coast Guard decried the moves as “irresponsible and provocative”.
The incident occurred in the Second Thomas Shoal and Spratly Islands waters, according to the Chinese coast guard. The shoal is home to a small number of Philippine troops stationed on a warship that Manila grounded there in 1999 to reinforce its sovereignty claims.
China claims almost the entire South China Sea, including the Second Thomas Shoal, and has deployed vessels to patrol the disputed atoll. A 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration found that China’s sweeping claims have no legal basis.
A Philippine civilian boat was hired to resupply the troops this week, and was escorted by two Philippine Navy ships and two Philippine Coast Guard vessels, according to a statement from the Philippine armed forces on March 23. A coast guard vessel was “impeded” and “encircled” by one China Coast Guard vessel and two Chinese maritime militia vessels, the Philippine Coast Guard said in a separate statement.
As a result, the Philippine Coast Guard vessel was “isolated” from the resupply boat by the “irresponsible and provocative behaviour” of the Chinese maritime forces, the Philippine Coast Guard said.
It added that the Chinese side showed a “disregard” for the Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea.
Mr Yu Gan, a spokesman for the China Coast Guard, said the Philippines broke a promise to remove the grounded vessel and sent two coast guard ships and a supply ship into the Second Thomas Shoal waters, 18 days after the last round of supplies.
China has not said who promised the removal or when that promise was made. The Philippines’ Defence Ministry, Foreign Ministry and military leaders have repeatedly said there was no such promise.
On March 23, Mr Gan said, the Philippines infringed and provoked trouble, and deliberately undermined the peace and stability of the South China Sea.
The Philippine vessels ignored China’s repeated warnings and route controls and forced their way in, he added. Mr Gan also said the China Coast Guard implements regulations in accordance with laws, and handles matters in a reasonable, legal and professional manner.
China’s Foreign Ministry said: “If the Philippines continues to act unilaterally, China will continue to take resolute measures to safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.
“All consequences caused by this shall be borne by the Philippines.” REUTERS
