The United States has called on Beijing to stop “dangerous and destabilizing” behavior in the South China Sea after a Chinese coast guard vessel rammed a Philippine vessel.
The US has expressed support for the Philippines “in light of these dangerous and illegal actions,” spokesman Matthew Miller said in a US State Department statement released on Sunday.
Miller argued that the Chinese ships “used water cannons and” [realizaram] reckless maneuvers,” causing “damage to Philippine vessels” at Scarborough, a Beijing-controlled reef off the Philippine island of Luzon, on Saturday, and again near Second Thomas, an atoll in the Spratly Islands, on Sunday.
“People’s Republic of China ships at Scarborough Reef also used acoustic devices, disabling Filipino crew members and driving away Filipino fishing boats,” he added in the same note.
“These actions reflect not only a reckless disregard for the safety and livelihood of Filipinos, but also for international law” to “undermine regional stability,” he said.
The US State Department recalled that, according to a July 2016 “legally binding ruling” by an international court, China has no “legal maritime claims” to the waters around Second Thomas and that Filipinos have traditional fishing rights in the area. .
A Philippine ship on a supply mission was rammed by a Chinese coast guard ship on Sunday, Philippine authorities said, while China accused the vessel of “intentionally colliding” with the Chinese vessel.
Manila and Beijing have a long history of maritime disputes in the South China Sea, through which billions of dollars worth of goods pass each year.
Beijing claims virtually the entire South China Sea, including waters and islands off the coasts of neighboring countries.
The Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam also claim several reefs and islets in that sea, some of which may contain rich oil deposits.
Source: DN
