Bangkok, Aug 20 (EFE).- The Philippine government stressed on Tuesday that the recent actions of the Chinese coast guard «do not contribute to confidence building» between the sides in the South China Sea, where both countries have overlapping territorial claims.
On Monday, the sides blamed each other for collisions of coast guard ships in the disputed sea.
«The Philippines urges China to refrain from aggressive actions and adhere to international law. The Philippines expresses serious concern over the deliberate harassment and infringement by China against Philippines sovereignty,» said National Maritime Council spokesman Alexander Lopez at a press conference on Tuesday.
In the early hours of Monday, two separate “ramming” incidents took place between ships of the Chinese and Philippine coast guards, which caused damage to the hull of one of Manila’s vessels in waters near Sabina Atoll (which the Philippines calls Escoda; and China, Xianbin Jiao) in the disputed Spratly Islands.
Following the incident, Manila and Beijing accused each other of carrying out illegal and dangerous maneuvers.
«These illegal actions do not contribute to confidence building measures necessary for the improvement of relations on the basis of mutual respect and for a rules-based international order,» Lopez stressed.
At the end of July, both nations reached an agreement to reduce tensions around the conflict zones in the South China Sea, concerning supply tasks and the rotations of the Philippine contingent in the region.
Lopez reaffirmed that Manila remains «committed to the president’s directive for a diplomatic approach in a peaceful resolution to disputes” and assured that despite this latest incident, the coast guard will continue with maritime activities and the protection of the waters that they consider to be within their jurisdiction.
Sabina Atoll is less than 200 miles from the Philippine island of Palawan, so according to international law it is within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone, a position backed in 2016 by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague in a ruling that China rejects.
This incident is the latest in a series of growing tensions between the two countries in the South China Sea, a strategic key zone for the transit of global maritime trade and which has hydrocarbon deposits and rich fishing grounds.
China claims almost all of the South China Sea by arguing alleged historical rights, a sovereignty claim that also clashes with those of other countries such as Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei, as well as the self-governed island of Taiwan. EFE
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