MANILA – China warned the Philippines on March 25 to behave cautiously and seek dialogue, saying their relations were at a “crossroads” as new confrontations between their coast guards over maritime claims deepened tensions.

It was the second such warning by the Chinese foreign ministry in three months, as the two countries openly sparred over territorial claims in the Spratly Islands, a mostly uninhabited archipelago in the South China Sea.

The message was delivered by Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong during a phone call with his Philippine counterpart, Ms Theresa Lazaro, amid worsening friction over altercations at the Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea.

In the call, Ms Lazaro relayed Manila’s “strongest protest against the aggressive actions” by the China coast guard and maritime militia against a Philippine resupply mission in the South China Sea, her ministry said in a statement.

Mr Chen said in a statement: “China once again urges the Philippines to honour its commitments and consensus, stop its maritime abuses and provocations, stop any unilateral actions that may complicate the situation, and earnestly return to the right track of properly handling differences through dialogue and consultation with China.”

The Philippines accused China’s coast guard of using water cannon against a civilian boat supplying troops on March 23 at the Second Thomas Shoal, which it said damaged the boat and injured some crew.

It was the latest in a series of flare-ups in the past year.

The Philippine foreign ministry summoned China’s charge d’affaires in Manila on March 25 to protest against “aggressive actions” in the wake of the incident.

“China’s continued interference with the Philippines’ routine and lawful activities in its own exclusive economic zone (EEZ) is unacceptable,” it said in a separate statement, adding that a diplomatic protest had been lodged in Beijing.

“It infringes upon the Philippines’ sovereign rights and jurisdiction,” it said, demanding Chinese vessels quit the area.

China’s coast guard said on March 23 it took necessary measures against Philippine vessels intruding in its waters.

Skirmishes amid a tougher line

Beijing claims almost the entire South China Sea as its own, including the Second Thomas Shoal, which is within the Philippines’ 320km EEZ.

The Philippines intentionally grounded an old warship at the shoal in 1999 as a means of bolstering its territorial claims and has kept a small contingent of military there ever since.

China’s foreign ministry said on March 25 the Philippines had reneged on a promise to tow away the ship, “violating the commitments it has made to the Chinese side on many occasions”.

The Philippines has repeatedly denied making any such commitment and said it will not abandon its position at the Second Thomas Shoal.

China has deployed hundreds of coast guard vessels throughout the South China Sea to patrol what it deems 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 recognise that outcome.

Philippine security chiefs convened a high-level meeting on March 25 over the reported water cannon incident to prepare recommendations to put to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr on ways forward in the dispute.

Since taking power in 2022, Mr Marcos has adopted a tough line against what he sees as Chinese hostility and rejected Chinese pressure to steer clear of maritime features it claims.

China views with suspicion efforts by Mr Marcos to deepen engagement with Manila’s defence treaty ally, the United States, including increasing base access for American troops and expanding military exercises to include joint air and sea patrols.

Washington has said it stands with the Philippines, as it condemned the “dangerous actions” of China.

Japan, Britain, Germany, France, Canada and Australia have also issued statements of support for the Philippines.

“The US is not a party to the South China Sea issue but repeatedly intervened, provoked the maritime issues between China and the Philippines,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian told reporters on March 25.

Philippine Defence Minister Gilberto Teodoro suggested on March 25 that China should prove the strength of its maritime claims through arbitration, rather than ambiguity.

“If China is not afraid to state its claims to the world, then why don’t we arbitrate under international law?” he said. “No country believes (their claims), and they see this as their way to use force, intimidate and bend the Philippines to their ambitions.” REUTERS