The Philippines’ defense chief has dared China to take its maritime sovereignty claims in the South China Sea to international arbitration after the latest water cannon attack by Chinese coast guard vessels.
It’s the second time in a month that the vessel, Unaizah May 4, has been damaged by a Chinese coast guard water cannon assault. On March 5, a confrontation also injured crew members.
Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro denounced the attacks and said that Beijing should resolve its maritime claims in accordance with international laws instead of attacking Philippine vessels.
“If China is not afraid to state its claims to the world, then why don’t we arbitrate under international law?” Mr. Teodoro told reporters on March 25.
“No country believes [their claims], and they see this as their way to use force, intimidate and bend the Philippines to their ambitions.”
The Unaizah May 4 vessel was delivering supplies and transporting Filipino sailors to a territorial outpost in the shoal when it was blocked and surrounded by China Coast Guard ships and suspected militia vessels.
“China’s aggressive actions call into question its sincerity in lowering the tensions and promoting peace and stability in the South China Sea,” the ministry said in a statement.
“Even as the Philippines continues to engage China in dialogue and diplomacy at the bilateral and multilateral levels, China’s aggressive actions contradict and put to waste ASEAN–China efforts to promote practical activities to foster peace and cooperation in the region.”
The Second Thomas Shoal, which Manila refers to as Ayungin Shoal and China calls Renai Reef, is located roughly 105 nautical miles from the Philippines’ Palawan Province, so it falls under Philippine jurisdiction.
US Voices Support for Philippines
U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement that the United States “stands with its ally the Philippines” and condemns the Chinese vessels’ “dangerous actions” in the South China Sea.He said the Chinese ships’ “repeated employment of water cannons and reckless blocking maneuvers resulted in injuries to Filipino service members and significant damage to their resupply vessel, rendering it immobile.”
Mr. Miller warned Beijing that any attack on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, and aircraft in the South China Sea would trigger a U.S. mutual defense treaty with the Philippines.
