From Rappler (Aug 7, 2023): China tells Philippines to remove grounded warship in South China Sea (By REUTERS)
(2nd UPDATE) 'The Philippines will never abandon our post in Ayungin Shoal,' says National Security Council Director General Jonathan Malaya,
China told the Philippines on Monday, August 7, to remove its grounded warship from the Ayungin Shoal, also known as Second Thomas Shoal, in the South China Sea after blocking two Manila supply ships with water cannons over the weekend as both sides asserted their claims of the area.
The Philippines accused the Chinese coast guard of blocking and firing water cannons at a Philippine military supply ship on what it said was a routine troop rotation and resupply mission on Saturday for the Philippine warship, a rusty World War Two-era American ship that a handful of troops live aboard.
China said it had earlier told Manila not to send ships to the Second Thomas Shoal and not to send “construction materials used for large-scale repair and reinforcement” to the warship after it learned of this recent supply plan, the Chinese coast guard said in a statement on Monday.
China also urged the Philippines to restore the Second Thomas Shoal and said it had allowed transport of daily necessities including food to the grounded ship, according to the Chinese statement, adding that it had used the water cannon to avoid collision from a direct interception.
China reiterated the call on Tuesday, August 8. “China once again urges the Philippine side to immediately remove the warship from Second Thomas Shoal and restore it to its unoccupied state,” China’s foreign ministry said in a statement.
Jonathan Malaya, Assistant Director General of the Philippines’ National Security Council, repeated comments he made on Monday, saying, “The Philippines will never abandon our post in Ayungin Shoal.”
“We urge China not to escalate matters by water cannons or military-grade lasers, which places Philippines lives at risk, but by sincere negotiations and other diplomatic means,” he added.
The Philippines in 1999 intentionally grounded the warship to stake its claim to the Second Thomas Reef, a submerged reef that is part of the Spratly islands in the South China Sea.
China over the weekend said it had “indisputable” sovereignty of the area and urged the Philippines to stop infringing activities in this waters.
Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Monday that the country continued to assert its sovereignty and territorial rights despite challenges in the South China Sea.
Marcos said the Philippines had relayed its complaint against China.
No one was injured in the maritime incident, but the Philippines is thinking of next steps to resupply troops.
China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea and the Spratly island, which consists of many islets, reefs banks and shoals and lie in the center of South China Sea and along major shipping lanes.
The island is claimed by China, Vietnam, Taiwan, Brunei, Malaysia and the Philippines.
https://www.rappler.com/nation/china-tells-philippines-remove-grounded-warship-ayungin-shoal/
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.