MANILA – The United States Department of State calls for “respect” for navigational rights and freedoms in the South China Sea after the harassment of Philippine vessels near Scarborough Shoal, locally known as Bajo de Masinloc, saying such actions are “detrimental to regional peace and stability.”
During a regular press briefing, U.S. State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel also said that installation of barriers by the Chinese coast guard “endangers” Philippine fisherfolk’s livelihood.
“The repeated harassment of Philippine vessels near Scarborough Reef is detrimental to regional peace and stability, and our belief is that the Chinese coast guard installation of these barriers also endangers Philippine fisherfolk’s livelihoods and prevents them from exercising their legal rights to fish in those waters,” Patel said.
In an earlier statement, the PCG said that during the patrol, the Philippine vessels encountered “dangerous manoeuvres and obstructions from four CCG vessels and six Chinese maritime militia vessels.”
One of the vessels was struck by water cannon from one of the CCG ships about 12 nautical miles (22km) from the shoal, while the PCG vessel was hit by water cannon fired by two of the CCG ships when it was about 1,000 yards (914 metres) away from the shoal, PCG said.
The incident resulted to damage to the railing and canopy of the vessel.
In the same statement, the PCG also revealed that CCG reinstalled a 380-meter (416-yard) barrier across the entrance to the shoal — a traditional fishing ground — blocking access to the waters inside.
China first installed the barrier last year, but the Philippines removed it in September as it breached international maritime law.
Patel reiterated the rights set out in 2016 in a final and legally binding judgment in the Philippines-China arbitration brought to the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention.
Patel added that this is always made clear by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on his travels.
Blinken recently visited China and met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on April 26, 2024.
We urge the PRC to respect the navigational rights and freedoms guaranteed to all states under international law,” Patel said.
