Robert Besser
24 Nov 2021, 13:31 GMT+10
MANILA, Philippines: The contested South China Seas again heated up this week as Chinese coast guard ships blocked two Philippines boats, then shot water at them using water cannons, as they carried supplies to Filipino troops in a disputed South China Sea shoal.
The Chinese actions resulted in Manila ordering Beijing's ships to retreat, and warned China that Filipino supply vessels are protected by a mutual defense treaty with the United States.
Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. reported that no injuries occurred, though the two supply ships were not able to carry out their mission to provide food to Filipino forces occupying Second Thomas Shoal, located in the Philippines' internationally recognized economic zone.
Also, Locsin said in a tweet that the actions by the Chinese coast guard ships were illegal and urged the ships "to take heed and back off."
This was yet another flare-up inside the territorial waterway, in which China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have voiced claims. In recent years China has said the entire South China Sea falls within its territories. It has also transformed seven shoals into island bases, complete with missiles, which increased regional tensions.
Further, the Philippine government conveyed to China, "our outrage, condemnation and protest of the incident," Locsin said, noting, "This failure to exercise self-restraint threatens the special relationship between the Philippines and China."
In Beijing, however, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian claimed China had acted to uphold its sovereignty, after the Philippines ships entered Chinese waters without permission.
In recent weeks, China has increased the number of surveillance ships in the disputed waters around the Philippines.
In response, Esperson said, "We will continue the resupply and we do not have to ask the permission of anybody, because that is within our territory."
In 1999, the Philippines deliberately ran aground a World War II warship, the BRP Sierra Madre, onto the shoal to reinforce its territorial claim and provide shelter to a contingent of Filipino marines.
Though the Sierra Madre is today a shipwreck, the Philippine military has not decommissioned it.
In international terms, the ship remains an extension of the government and any attack on the ship is the same an assault against the Philippines.
Also, Philippines Navy ship LT 57 with Philippines troops aboard is stationed off Second Thomas Shoal, locally known as Ayungin Shoal, in the South China Sea.
Meanwhile, the United States continues to patrol the region with its ships and aircraft, in a bid to ensure that the seas remain open to all shipping, including ships from the Philippines.
China has repeatedly warned the U.S. to stay out of the disputed waters.
Get a daily dose of Irish Sun news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Irish Sun.
More InformationNEW YORK CITY, New York: After reporting record revenues in the fourth-quarter of 2022, US airlines expect strong travel demand ...
MANILA, Philippines: After a Filipina domestic worker was killed and dumped in the desert in the oil-rich emirate of Kuwait, ...
LONG BEACH, California: Long Beach, California-based Rocket Lab has launched its first mission from the United States, as part of ...
Israel was behind Sunday morning's drone strike on an Iranian munitions facility; the Wall Street Journal has reported, citing American ...
LONDON, England: Of the 14 main battle tanks and additional artillery support it will send to Ukraine, Britain hopes its ...
LONDON, England: Insurance broker Aon has estimated that natural disasters caused global economic losses worth $313 billion in 2022.It added ...
LONDON, England: Flybe, a British regional airline, abruptly closed operations on January 28. The airline offered flight to Belfast, Birmingham ...
LONDON, England: Of the 14 main battle tanks and additional artillery support it will send to Ukraine, Britain hopes its ...
DUBLIN, Ireland: Ireland's consumer energy prices dropped 15 percent last week, the result of warm weather and full stocks of ...
WASHINGTON D.C.: The US State Department has said that in the latest fiscal year, US military equipment exported to foreign ...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Finland and Sweden are prepared to join the NATO alliance, the U.S. State Department announced this week.The move ...
DUBLIN, Ireland: The European Commission is taking Ireland to court, claiming that Ireland has not protected the country's lakes, rivers, ...