From the Philippine Star (Feb 16, 2023): China says US using MDT for intimidation (Pia Lee-Brago)
“The US invokes its Mutual Defense Treaty with the Philippines at every turn in an attempt to intimidate China, but it will not weaken our resolve and will to safeguard China’s legitimate and lawful rights and interests,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said in a press conference Tuesday. CSIS / AMTI via DigitalGlobe
MANILA, Philippines — China has slammed the United States for raising the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) with the Philippines “to intimidate” Beijing as it defended the aggressive actions of its coast guard patrols against Filipino vessels in the West Philippine Sea.
“The US invokes its Mutual Defense Treaty with the Philippines at every turn in an attempt to intimidate China, but it will not weaken our resolve and will to safeguard China’s legitimate and lawful rights and interests,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said in a press conference Tuesday.
The US State Department said the “US stands with our Philippine allies” in the face of the Chinese Coast Guard’s reported use of a laser device against the crew of a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel in the South China Sea.
The Philippines had protested China’s dangerous maneuvers and use of military-grade laser against a PCG ship on a resupply mission near Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.
President Marcos summoned Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian to express serious concern over the increasing frequency and intensity of actions of China against the PCG and Filipino fishermen.
Despite China’s laser use against a Philippine ship, Beijing described the overall situation in Ayungin Shoal as “calm,” claiming that the CCG’s actions were “professional” and “restrained.”
Wang said the Philippines and China have discussed the incident in Ayungin Shoal.
“Earlier, we shared the facts and actual circumstances of the incident as well as China’s principled position. We would like to stress again that what the China Coast Guard did was professional and restrained,” he said.
But State Department spokesman Ned Price said China’s dangerous operational behavior directly threatens regional pace and stability, infringes upon freedom of navigation in the South China Sea as guaranteed under international law and undermines the rules-based international order.
The US reaffirmed that an armed attack on Philippine armed forces, public vessels or aircraft, including those of Coast Guard in the South China Sea, would invoke US mutual defense commitments under the MDT.
Wang called the South China Sea arbitration case initiated by the Philippines against China a “political drama” orchestrated by the US.
“We would also like to point out that the South China Sea arbitration case brought by the Philippines was pure political drama orchestrated by the US,” Wang said. “Its so-called ruling is illegal, null and void and will have no effect whatsoever on China’s claims to rights in the South China Sea.”
“The US invokes its Mutual Defense Treaty with the Philippines at every turn in an attempt to intimidate China, but it will not weaken our resolve and will to safeguard China’s legitimate and lawful rights and interests,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said in a press conference Tuesday.
The US State Department said the “US stands with our Philippine allies” in the face of the Chinese Coast Guard’s reported use of a laser device against the crew of a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel in the South China Sea.
The Philippines had protested China’s dangerous maneuvers and use of military-grade laser against a PCG ship on a resupply mission near Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.
President Marcos summoned Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian to express serious concern over the increasing frequency and intensity of actions of China against the PCG and Filipino fishermen.
Despite China’s laser use against a Philippine ship, Beijing described the overall situation in Ayungin Shoal as “calm,” claiming that the CCG’s actions were “professional” and “restrained.”
Wang said the Philippines and China have discussed the incident in Ayungin Shoal.
“Earlier, we shared the facts and actual circumstances of the incident as well as China’s principled position. We would like to stress again that what the China Coast Guard did was professional and restrained,” he said.
But State Department spokesman Ned Price said China’s dangerous operational behavior directly threatens regional pace and stability, infringes upon freedom of navigation in the South China Sea as guaranteed under international law and undermines the rules-based international order.
The US reaffirmed that an armed attack on Philippine armed forces, public vessels or aircraft, including those of Coast Guard in the South China Sea, would invoke US mutual defense commitments under the MDT.
Wang called the South China Sea arbitration case initiated by the Philippines against China a “political drama” orchestrated by the US.
“We would also like to point out that the South China Sea arbitration case brought by the Philippines was pure political drama orchestrated by the US,” Wang said. “Its so-called ruling is illegal, null and void and will have no effect whatsoever on China’s claims to rights in the South China Sea.”
Nations express concern
The United Kingdom, Germany, Japan and Australia expressed serious concern over China’s intimidatory actions in the South China Sea, saying the CCG actions are “dangerous” acts in violation of international law.
“The UK supports and joins the Philippines in expressing our serious concern regarding the intimidatory actions towards lawfully operating Philippines vessels in the South China Sea. These dangerous acts are in violation of international law,” the British embassy in Manila said in a statement.
The UK, the embassy said, is unwavering in its position on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and that the 2016 arbitral decision is final and legally binding.
German Ambassador Anke Reiffenstuel expressed concern over China’s actions.
She said that all nations must follow the UNCLOS, noting that the arbitral ruling on the South China Sea was final.
“We call to refrain from any conduct that increases tensions. All states must abide by #UNCLOS. The 2016 Arbitral Award is final and legally binding,” Reiffenstuel said.
Japanese Ambassador Kazuhiko Koshikawa said all states should observe maritime order, citing the 2016 arbitral ruling.
“We express serious concerns about dangerous behavior against Philippine vessels,” Koshikawa said in a Twitter post.
“Recall that 2016 Arbitral Award is final and legally binding. We firmly oppose any action that increase tensions,” he said.
Australia called CCG’s actions against Philippine ship “unsafe and intimidatory.”
In a Twitter post, Ambassador Hae Kyong Yu said Australia continues to “call for peace, stability and respect for international law in the South China Sea, a vital international waterway.”
The Department of Foreign Affairs said the acts of aggression by China are “disturbing and disappointing” as it came after the President’s state visit to China in early January during which he and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to “manage maritime differences through diplomacy and dialogue, without resorting to force and intimidation.”
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/02/16/2245337/china-says-us-using-mdt-intimidation
The United Kingdom, Germany, Japan and Australia expressed serious concern over China’s intimidatory actions in the South China Sea, saying the CCG actions are “dangerous” acts in violation of international law.
“The UK supports and joins the Philippines in expressing our serious concern regarding the intimidatory actions towards lawfully operating Philippines vessels in the South China Sea. These dangerous acts are in violation of international law,” the British embassy in Manila said in a statement.
The UK, the embassy said, is unwavering in its position on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and that the 2016 arbitral decision is final and legally binding.
German Ambassador Anke Reiffenstuel expressed concern over China’s actions.
She said that all nations must follow the UNCLOS, noting that the arbitral ruling on the South China Sea was final.
“We call to refrain from any conduct that increases tensions. All states must abide by #UNCLOS. The 2016 Arbitral Award is final and legally binding,” Reiffenstuel said.
Japanese Ambassador Kazuhiko Koshikawa said all states should observe maritime order, citing the 2016 arbitral ruling.
“We express serious concerns about dangerous behavior against Philippine vessels,” Koshikawa said in a Twitter post.
“Recall that 2016 Arbitral Award is final and legally binding. We firmly oppose any action that increase tensions,” he said.
Australia called CCG’s actions against Philippine ship “unsafe and intimidatory.”
In a Twitter post, Ambassador Hae Kyong Yu said Australia continues to “call for peace, stability and respect for international law in the South China Sea, a vital international waterway.”
The Department of Foreign Affairs said the acts of aggression by China are “disturbing and disappointing” as it came after the President’s state visit to China in early January during which he and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to “manage maritime differences through diplomacy and dialogue, without resorting to force and intimidation.”
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2023/02/16/2245337/china-says-us-using-mdt-intimidation
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