The Philippine government on Monday condemned China’s latest aggression in the West Philippine Sea, calling it a “blatant violation of international law.”
In a press briefing in Malacañang, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said that Chinese Coast Guard and maritime militia vessels harassed and intentionally hit a Philippine Navy and a Philippine Coast Guard vessel on Sunday, 22 October, while they were conducting legitimate rotation and resupply operations within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
“The Chinese government is deliberately obfuscating the truth,” Teodoro said. “The Philippine Navy and the Philippine Coast Guard are here to give you an undistorted narration of the illegal acts of the Chinese vessels.”
Teodoro said that the Chinese vessels were operating in Philippine waters without any legal right or authority.
He also said that the use of brute force by China is “a serious escalation of the illegal activities conducted by the Chinese government in the WPS, in complete disregard of any norm or convention of any international law.”
The Philippine government has summoned the Chinese ambassador to express its condemnation of the incident. The Philippine ambassador to China has also been instructed to convey the same to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Philippine Coast Guard has been directed to proceed swiftly with its maritime investigation in accordance with international maritime safety regulations.
The Philippine government has also called on its allies and like-minded nations to condemn China’s aggression and expansionist actions.
Teodoro also acknowledged the support of the Philippines’ allies and like-minded nations, such as the United States, Japan, Australia, Germany, Canada, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the European Union, in condemning China’s aggression and expansionist actions.
“In condemning China’s aggression and expansionist actions, we call on our people to stand behind the government in executing our constitutional mandate to secure the national interest in the West Philippine Sea,” he added.
The Philippine government’s condemnation of China’s latest aggression comes at a time of heightened tensions in the West Philippine Sea. China has been increasingly assertive in its claims to the entire waterway, despite a 2016 ruling by an international tribunal that invalidated its claims.