Push Admin

Dangerous maneuvers? China says its coast guard 'professional, restrained' in Ayungin

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

<h2><br/><strong>US envoy says China’s ‘irresponsible’ behavior ‘threatens’ PH security, legal rights</strong></h2><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Philippine Coast Guard handout " src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/news/07/05/philippine-coast-guard-handout-07052023.jpg"/><figcaption><em>Philippine Coast Guard handout </em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA — China on Thursday said its coast guard had been “professional and restrained” in the West Philippine Sea, despite the Philippines’ recent accusation that it carried out dangerous maneuvers in the area. </p><p>The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) this week said two of its vessels were shadowed and blocked near Ayungin Shoal by Chinese ships, which also issued radio challenges. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/05/23/chinese-vessels-blocked-ph-coast-guard-ships-off-ayungin-shoal-official">Chinese vessels block, carry out dangerous maneuvers vs PCG ships</a></li></ul><p>But Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin insisted that Ayungin, which Beijing calls Ren’ai Reef, “is part of China’s Nansha Islands.” The PCG, he said, “intruded” into the area “without Chinese permission.” </p><p>“In accordance with the law, the Chinese Coast Guard vessel carried out law enforcement activities to uphold China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime order. The Chinese side’s maneuvers were professional and restrained,” he said in a press conference.</p><p>Washington is “concerned by the unprofessional maneuvers” of the China Coast Guard, US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson said on Friday. </p><p>“The PRC’s (People&#x27;s Republic of China) irresponsible behavior in the South China Sea threatens the security and legal rights of our treaty ally, the Philippines,” Carlson said on Twitter. </p><p>“We call on the PRC to comply with international law, including implementing the legally binding 2016 award in the Philippines v. China Law of the Sea Convention arbitration as a starting point to achieve a #FreeAndOpenIndoPacific,” she said. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/06/08/23/marcos-to-new-envoys-we-only-side-with-ph-not-us-or-china">Marcos to new envoys: We only side with PH, not US or China</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/04/23/marcos-reaffirms-ties-with-us-on-philippine-american-friendship-day">Marcos reaffirms ties with US on Philippine-American friendship day</a></li></ul><p>China claims almost the entire sea despite rival claims from other Southeast Asian countries including the Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia.</p><p>Its coast guard and navy vessels routinely block or shadow Philippine ships patrolling the contested waters, Manila says.</p><p>In April, a Chinese coast guard ship cut off the Philippine patrol vessel Malapascua as it carried journalists near the Ayungin Shoal. An AFP team was on another coast guard vessel and witnessed the near collision.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/04/27/23/chinese-philippine-vessels-in-david-and-goliath-near-crash">Chinese, Philippine vessels in &#x27;David and Goliath&#x27; near-crash</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/28/23/china-says-ph-boats-provocative-action-caused-near-crash">China says Philippine boat&#x27;s &#x27;provocative action&#x27; caused near-crash</a></li></ul><p>In that incident, the Malapascua&#x27;s commanding officer Rodel Hernandez said the Chinese ship came within 45 meters of his boat and only his quick actions avoided the steel-hulled vessels crashing into each other.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/04/23/marcos-reaffirms-ties-with-us-on-philippine-american-friendship-day">Marcos reaffirms ties with US on Philippine-American friendship day</a></li></ul><p>Sen. JV Ejercito said he believed the latest incident involving the Chinese coast guard was proof that the Philippines&#x27; note verbales against its behavior was &quot;falling on deaf ears&quot;. </p><p>&quot;I would agree to the proposition of Sen. Risa [Hontiveros] and Sen. Francis Tolentino, I think, na talaga dapat dalhin na ito sa United Nations para ma-enforce na iyong Hague ruling. Because the West Philippine Sea is really ours, as stated in The Hague ruling. We have to exhaust all diplomatic means,&quot; he told reporters. </p><p>&quot;And I think we have to strengthen our alliances in the Asia Pacific, Indo Pacific area with the right thinking nations. Hindi lang United States; Australia, Japan, even the ASEAN nations which have disputes against China - Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, dapat magkaroon na tayo ng alliance...so that the freedom of navigation will prevail in the West Philippine Sea,&quot; he added.</p><p>Hontiveros meanwhile urged Wang to &quot;stop with the lies, gaslighting, and propaganda.&quot; </p><p>&quot;If China wants to be a responsible member of the community of nations, Wang, as Foreign Ministry spokesperson, should inform his government to genuinely abide by international law and leave Philippine territory be,&quot; the senator said. </p><div><strong>— With reports from Agence France-Presse; Arra Perez, ABS-CBN News </strong><br/> </div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=2597905" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div><div><br/> </div>

China on Thursday said its coast guard had been “professional and restrained” in the West Philippine Sea, despite the Philippines’ recent claims. 