The Philippines strongly condemns China for its “dangerous and offensive” actions in the South China Sea, as tensions escalate over the recent incident involving a Chinese navy ship and a Philippine navy vessel.
After a Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessel shadowed and attempted to intercept a Philippine ship conducting a resupply mission near Thitu island, Manila’s largest and strategically significant outpost in the South China Sea, the Philippine military has called on China to cease its “unsafe actions”.
According to armed forces chief Romeo Brawner, the Chinese vessel came within 350 yards of the Philippine ship, posing a significant risk of collision and endangering the lives of maritime personnel from both sides.
In a statement released on Sunday, October 15, Brawner expressed concern over the maneuvers conducted by China’s PLAN and emphasized the need for immediate cessation of such actions. However, the Chinese embassy in Manila has not responded to requests for comment as of Monday.
This incident is the latest in a series of attempts by China to monitor and obstruct Philippine resupply missions to personnel stationed in features within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea, which are under Manila’s occupation.
China has laid territorial claims to nearly the entire South China Sea, an area through which over $3 trillion of trade passes annually. This expansive claim has been a source of contention among neighboring countries and has led to heightened tensions in the region.
Relations between Manila and Beijing have soured, particularly since Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos pursued closer ties with Washington, including granting increased access to Philippine military bases for the United States.
Source: PhilNews24 | October 16, 2023
