The Philippine military on Sunday condemned the “excessive and offensive” use of a water cannon to prevent a Philippine supply ship from bringing troops refreshment, food, water and fuel to the Philippine-occupied Second Thomas shoal. in contested waters.
The United States, the European Union and their main allies, such as Australia and Japan, expressed their support for the Philippines and their concerns about the actions of the Chinese ship. Washington has renewed its warning that it is obliged to defend its former ally if Philippine ships and forces come under armed attack, also in the South China Sea.
The tense confrontation on Saturday was a new incident in the bitter territorial conflicts between China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei.
One of the high-level Philippine officials handling the incident told The Associated Press that Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian had been summoned by the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila on Monday to convey a diplomatic protest in firm terms.
The protest would highlight how the Chinese coast guard ship’s actions violated international standards aimed at avoiding collisions at sea and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to comment on the ship’s actions. government before they were made public.
Disputes in the South China Sea, one of the busiest shipping lanes, have long been seen as a flashpoint in Asia and a sensitive front in the US-China rivalry there.
China claims virtually the entire strategic navigable zone despite international rulings that invalidated its large territorial claims. China rejects those decisions.
FOUNTAIN: Associated Press
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