The Chinese Embassy in Manila has strongly condemned the United States for backing the Philippines following a confrontation during a rotation and resupply (RoRe) mission near Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea on September 24.
In a statement, the Chinese Embassy accused the US Embassy in the Philippines of “disregard for right and wrong” and of supporting what Beijing described as the Philippines’ “provocative and unlawful actions” at Ren’ai Reef, China’s name for Ayungin Shoal.
The embassy claimed that the Philippines had “breached its commitments” by proceeding with a resupply mission for the Philippine Navy’s BRP Sierra Madre despite China’s warnings.
According to Beijing, the China Coast Guard (CCG) responded by conducting on-site monitoring and following the Philippine resupply vessel, while issuing verbal warnings.
The Chinese Embassy also accused the Philippines of violating the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), saying the incident and subsequent publicity surrounding it undermined peace and stability in the region.
China urged the United States to “stop fanning the flames” and refrain from actions that, according to Beijing, could undermine regional peace and stability.
The statement came after US Ambassador to the Philippines Lee Lipton condemned what he described as “dangerous blocking and other irresponsible maneuvers” by the China Coast Guard and the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) during the September 24 mission. Lipton said the maneuvers threatened a collision with a Philippine vessel and prevented a lawful and routine resupply mission to Second Thomas Shoal.
The US Embassy said Washington stands by its Philippine allies and called on the CCG and PLAN to stop using what it described as escalatory tactics that threaten freedom of navigation and a free and open Indo-Pacific.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines earlier reported that three PLAN warships and five CCG vessels, including two Houbei-class missile boats, interfered with the Philippine RoRe mission. The mission was temporarily suspended due to concerns over the safety of personnel and vessels.
The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea said the Chinese vessels hindered the delivery of essential supplies to and the rotation of personnel aboard the BRP Sierra Madre. It maintained that the actions of the CCG and PLA Navy were inconsistent with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 arbitral award.
China has rejected the 2016 arbitral ruling, while the Philippines continues to invoke the decision in asserting its maritime rights in the West Philippine Sea. The tribunal ruled that there was no legal basis for China's claim to historic rights over resources within the relevant areas of the South China Sea.
