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US asks Beijing to stop 'dangerous' South China Sea conduct

December 11, 2023

The US State Department has said that China's actions in the South China Sea undermine regional stability. The statement follows a maritime incident involving Philippine and Chinese vessels.

https://p.dw.com/p/4a03h
A Chinese Coast Guard ship, right, uses a water cannon on a Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessel as it approaches the Scarborough Shoal .
A Chinese Coast Guard ship, right, uses a water cannon on a Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessel as it approaches the Scarborough Shoal Image: (Philippine Coast Guard/AP/picture alliance

The United States on Sunday denounced China for interfering in the Philippines' maritime operations and undermining regional stability, calling on Beijing to halt  "its dangerous and destabilizing conduct" in the South China Sea.

The statement comes after a Philippine boat and Chinese Coast Guard ship collided near a contested reef earlier on Sunday, the second such confrontation in the disputed sea in consecutive days.

The two Asian nations have traded blame over the incident which took place while Manila's vessels were on a resupply mission to Second Thomas Shoal where its soldiers were stationed in a deliberately grounded navy vessel.

"Obstructing supply lines to this long standing outpost and interfering with lawful Philippines maritime operations undermines regional stability," US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement.

China lays sweeping claims in the South China Sea, including waters and islands near the shores of its neighbors. It has ignored a 2016 international tribunal ruling that its assertions have no legal basis.

The United States has urged China to comply with the arbitral ruling.

Philippines decries 'violation' of international law 

Meanwhile during the weekend, the Chinese coast guard asked the Philippines to stop its "provocative acts," saying China would continue to carry out "law-enforcement activities" in its waters.

On Sunday, Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said that the "aggression and provocations perpetrated by the China coast guard and their Chinese maritime militia" against Philippine vessels and personnel over the weekend have "further steeled our determination to defend and protect our nation's sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea."

"No one but the Philippines has a legitimate right or legal basis to operate anywhere in the West Philippine Sea. The illegal presence in our waters and dangerous actions against our citizens is an outright and blatant violation of international law and the rules-based international order," he added in his statement published on social media. 

On Monday, the Philippines Foreign Ministry said it has summoned China's ambassador, Huang Xilian, following the confrontations.

Philippines denounces China's aggressive behaviour in the South China Sea

dvv/msh (AFP, Reuters)