MANILA, Philippines – The United States and Japan called out China’s Coast Guard after its latest confrontation in the South China Sea with Philippine Coast Guard and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessels, saying such actions are “dangerous” and “increases tensions”.
In a post on X, U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson said the actions of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) disrupted a Philippine maritime operation last December 4, putting the lives of the crew at risk.
“The PRC's unlawful use of water cannons and dangerous maneuvers disrupted a Philippine maritime operation on December 4, putting lives at risk,” Ambassador Carlson said.
“We condemn these actions and stand with our likeminded #FriendsPartnersAllies in support of a #FreeAndOpenIndoPacific,” she continued on her post on X.
The PRC's unlawful use of water cannons and dangerous maneuvers disrupted a Philippine maritime operation on December 4, putting lives at risk. We condemn these actions and stand with our likeminded #FriendsPartnersAllies in support of a #FreeAndOpenIndoPacific.
— Ambassador MaryKay L. Carlson (@USAmbPH) December 4, 2024
Japan also issued a statement on X, expressing its concern “about the dangerous actions against the PCG and BFAR vessels by the Chinese Coast Guard.
“Seriously concerned about the dangerous actions against PCG and BFAR vessels by CCG. The use of water cannon & obstructive maneuvers undermine the safety of ship & crew. Japan upholds the rule of law and opposes any actions which increase tensions,” Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines ENDO Kazuya said.
Seriously concerned about the dangerous actions against 🇵🇭PCG and BFAR vessels by CCG. The use of water cannon & obstructive maneuvers undermine the safety of ship & crew. 🇯🇵 upholds the rule of law and opposes any actions which increase tensions.
— Ambassador of Japan in the Philippines (@AmbJPNinPH) December 4, 2024
Both the Philippines and China issued conflicting statements on the maritime encounter on Wednesday, heightening tensions on the longstanding dispute between the two countries around a contested shoal in the South China Sea.
In a press conference, PCG spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela and National Maritime Council spokesperson Alexander Lopez presented to the media the latest incident involving the CCG, detailing the “aggressive actions” towards BRP Teresa Magbanua and BRP Cabra, and BFAR vessels BRP Datu Pagbuaya and BRP Datu Sanday, while conducting joint routine maritime patrol near Bajo de Masinloc in the West Philippine Sea.
Both officials condemned China’s continuous “aggression, coercion, and intimidation” while the PCG and BFAR were conducting legal maritime and humanitarian activities in the West Philippine Sea.
The Philippine officials also mentioned that Chinese coast guard vessels “fired water cannons” and “side-swiped” a BFAR boat while on its way to deliver supplies to fishermen in the area.
On the other hand, China asserted that it is the Philippine ships that had attempted to enter its territorial waters around the Scarborough Shoal, or what Beijing claims as Huangyan Island.
“Philippine ships had dangerously approached the coast guard's normal law enforcement patrol vessels, prompting them to exercise control over their counterparts, Liu Dejun, a coast guard spokesperson, said in a statement.
中国海警局新闻发言人就菲船只企图侵闯黄岩岛领海发表谈话
— ChineseEmbassyManila (@Chinaembmanila) December 4, 2024
中国海警局新闻发言人刘德军表示，12月4日，菲律宾海警9701、4409号船及3002、3003号公务船企图侵闯中国黄岩岛领海，并危险接近中国海警正常执法巡查船只，中方依法依规对其实施管控。
In a further statement, Liu added that one of the Philippine ships "ignored" repeated warnings, with actions that "seriously threatened" the safety of a Chinese coast guard vessel.
"We warn the Philippines to immediately stop infringement, provocation and propaganda, otherwise it will be responsible for all consequences," Liu added.
