Philippines says Beijing’s words not matching actions in South China Sea
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In May, Chinese Coast Guard vessels fired water cannons towards a Philippine resupply vessel.
PHOTO: REUTERS
MANILA – China must avoid actions that endanger sailors and vessels in the South China Sea, the Philippine foreign ministry said on June 19, adding that peace cannot be achieved if China’s words do not match its behaviour in the disputed waters.
The ministry denounced China’s “illegal and aggressive actions” during a routine resupply mission in the South China Sea on June 17, which the Philippine military said had severely injured a navy sailor and damaged Manila’s vessels.
“In line with the Philippines’ commitment to pursue peace, the department has been exerting efforts to rebuild a conducive environment for dialogue and consultation with China on the South China Sea,” the ministry said in a statement.
“This cannot be achieved if China’s words do not match their actions in the waters.”
A Philippine navy sailor suffered serious injury
China’s Coast Guard has disputed this, saying Manila’s vessel deliberately and dangerously approached a Chinese ship in an unprofessional manner, forcing it to take control measures, including “boarding inspections and forced evictions”.
A spokesperson for the Philippine military said the sailor, whom the military chief awarded with the Wounded Personnel Medal on June 19, lost a finger and was recovering in a hospital.
The United States, Canada and the United Kingdom have condemned China’s actions.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry on June 19 said China took no direct measures against Philippine personnel.
“The law enforcement measures… were professional and restrained, aimed at stopping the illegal fishing by Philippine ships, and no direct measures were taken against Philippine personnel,” said ministry spokesman Lin Jian.
Though the Philippines repeatedly claimed to be transporting daily necessities, it had been smuggling building materials and even weapons and ammunition in a bid to occupy Renai Reef for a long time, Mr Lin said during a regular news briefing in Beijing.
China refers to the Second Thomas Shoal as Renai Reef, while Manila calls it Ayungin.
China claims almost the entire South China Sea, which includes the Second Thomas Shoal, where the Philippines maintains a rusting warship, BRP Sierra Madre, that it beached in 1999 to reinforce its sovereignty claims.
In January, Manila and Beijing agreed to improve maritime communication and to properly manage conflicts and differences through friendly talks, especially on the situation around the Second Thomas Shoal, known as Renai reef in China, and Ayungin in Manila.
China, whose expansive claims have been invalidated by an international tribunal in 2016, has repeatedly said that Philippine vessels illegally intrude into waters surrounding disputed shoals. REUTERS
