Amid a conflict between China and the Philippines over the latter’s vessel reportedly being targeted by water canons, Beijing asked the Philippines to pull the grounded warship away from Ren’ai Reef quickly.
In a statement issued by the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Beijing asked for the restoration of the reef’s original status as part of China’s Nansha Islands.
The Philippines repeatedly promised to pull away the vessel that had grounded illegally on the reef. However, not only has it failed to pull away the vessel, but it has also attempted to repair and reinforce it on a significant scale to achieve permanent possession of the Ren’ai Reef 24 years after the matter initially arose, according to the study.
A Chinese official described it as a serious violation of international law and the South China Sea Declaration signed by China and ASEAN nations.
He asserted that the current crisis on Ren’ai Reef was caused by the Philippines’ neglecting China’s goodwill and sincerity when sending building supplies to the warship.
According to analysts, the incident heightened an already tense situation and may prompt the US and its partners to speed plans for coordinated patrols in the waterway.
A smaller Philippines boat was cannon-sprayed by a large Chinese Coast Guard ship while attempting to deliver supplies to a garrison of Philippine marines at Second Thomas Shoal, a South China Sea feature in Manila’s exclusive economic zone that China refers to as Ren’ai Reef and also claims as its sovereign territory.
The Chinese ship also moved dangerously close to the Philippine Coast Guard vessels while they escorted the resupply boats, according to photos from the Philippine Coast Guard.
“The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) strongly condemns the China Coast Guard’s (CCG) dangerous maneuvers and illegal use of water cannons against PCG vessels”, the PCG said in a statement posted on its official Facebook page Saturday.
By Sunday, Washington, Manila’s main ally, had condemned China’s actions while reiterating its commitment to the mutual defence pact with the Philippines.
“The United States reaffirms that an armed attack on Philippine public vessels, aircraft, and armed forces in the South China Sea, including those of its Coast Guard”, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement.
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