US condemns China’s dangerous maneuvers in Ayungin

MANILA, Philippines — The United States condemned yesterday China’s maritime forces for “dangerous” maneuvers that risked collision with a Philippine vessel, and the use of “escalatory tactics” that threaten freedom of navigation.

“The United States strongly condemns the use of dangerous blocking and other irresponsible maneuvers by the China Coast Guard (CCG) and the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) that threatened a collision with a Philippine vessel and prevented a lawful and routine resupply mission to Second Thomas Shoal (Ayungin Shoal) on Sept. 24,” US Ambassador Lee Lipton said in a statement.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) accused China on Friday of obstructing a resupply mission to troops on board the BRP Sierra Madre at Ayungin Shoal, saying dangerous maneuvers by Chinese vessels “put Filipino personnel at risk” and prevented the resupply mission from being completed.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said that three Chinese Navy warships and five CCG vessels, including two Houbei-class missile boats, interfered with the routine humanitarian rotation and resupply (RoRe) mission to Ayungin Shoal.

“We stand by our Philippine Allies and laud their professionalism and restraint. We call on the China Coast Guard and PLAN to cease the use of escalatory tactics that threaten the freedom of navigation and a free and open Indo-Pacific,” Lipton said.

The AFP said the actions of the Chinese vessels were irresponsible and reckless, and inconsistent with applicable provisions of the Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, as well as Philippine rights affirmed by the 2016 Arbitral Award.

The RoRe mission was temporarily suspended due to the risk of escalation and danger to personnel and vessels.

The Philippines will continue conducting lawful operations in the West Philippine Sea and exercising its sovereign rights and jurisdiction in accordance with international law.

China to US: Stop fanning flames

The Chinese embassy in Manila, in a statement, denounced the US embassy for its insistence on supporting the Philippines’ actions at Ayungin shoal.

The Chinese embassy said the Philippines disregarded China’s warnings when it went ahead with the resupply mission in Philippine waters.

“China urges the US side to stop fanning the flames and refrain from actions that undermine regional peace and stability,” the embassy said in the statement.