MANILA – The United States and foreign embassies in the Philippines expressed “deep concern” over multiple dangerous actions by China’s coast guard (CCG) after it “intentionally” rammed and collided with a Philippine Coast Guard vessel in Escoda Shoal (Sabina Shoal) in the West Philippine Sea last Saturday, August 31.
In her post on X, U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson “condemns the multiple dangerous violations of international law by the PRC, including today's (Aug.31) intentional ramming of the BRP Teresa Magbanua while it was conducting lawful operations within the Philippine EEZ.”
“We stand with the Philippines in upholding international law,” Carlson added.
The U.S. condemns the multiple dangerous violations of international law by the PRC, including today's intentional ramming of the BRP Teresa Magbanua while it was conducting lawful operations within the 🇵🇭 EEZ. We stand with the Philippines in upholding international law. https://t.co/RRJKUdP5ge
— Ambassador MaryKay L. Carlson (@USAmbPH) August 31, 2024
Japan also expressed “serious concern” over the repeated incidents, while reposting photos and videos of the PCG about the incident.
“As a stakeholder of SCS, seriously concerned over the repeated incidents including yesterday’s collision by a CCG vessel against a Philippine vessel. Japan opposes any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion,” Japanese Ambassador ENDO Kazuya said in his post on X.
Japan stands together with the Philippines by upholding rule of law at sea, Endo added.
The PCG confirmed that the Teresa Magbanua (MRRV-9701) incurred damage due to the incident.
The Teresa Magbanua is a PCG patrol vessel supplied by the Japanese Government under the Maritime Safety Capacity Improvement project, being utilized for search and rescue, maritime law enforcement and other operations.
As a stakeholder of SCS, seriously concerned over the repeated incidents including yesterday’s collision by a CCG vessel against a 🇵🇭vessel. 🇯🇵opposes any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion. 🇯🇵stands together with 🇵🇭 by upholding rule of law at sea. https://t.co/XgfvuDQYzR
— Ambassador of Japan in the Philippines (@AmbJPNinPH) August 31, 2024
Other ally countries also expressed their concern over the incident, with Canada calling out China to “cease its repeated and dangerous obstruction of Philippine vessels and aircraft which undermines peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.”
In his post on X, Canadian Ambassador David Hartman said the August 31 incident is the “seventh (7th) serious incident this month” involving the CCG and the PCG in the South China Sea.
1/2 Canada condemns the actions of the Chinese coast guard and its repeated ramming of the Philippine Coast Guard vessel on August 31, which is the 7th serious incident this month.
— David Hartman (@AmbDBHartman) September 1, 2024
The Embassy of the Republic of Korea also expressed its concern over the “recent and recurring incidents in the South China Sea that have escalated tension and jeopardized the safety of the Philippine vessels and its personnel on board.”
The Embassy reiterates its support for peace, stability, safety and rules-based order in these waters as well as the importance of freedom of navigation and overflight in accordance with international law, including UNCLOS, according to its post on its Facebook account.
(1/2) The Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the Philippines expresses concern again over the recent and recurring incidents in the South China Sea that have escalated tension and jeopardized the safety of the Philippine vessels and its personnel on board.
— Korean Embassy in the Philippines (@KoreanEmbassyPH) September 1, 2024
Meanwhile, the Australian Embassy, through Ambassador Hae Kyong Yu's post on X, called China’s actions “destabilizing and unacceptable conduct” and “poses serious risks of harm to crew”.
The Australian Government also believes that such actions by China “undermines recent commitments to de-escalate tensions in the South China Sea.”
“The Australian Government urges China to cease these actions, resolve disputes peacefully and adhere to international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and conventions on the prevention of collisions at sea,” the Australian Embassy shared.
— Australian Ambassador, The Philippines (@AusAmbPH) September 2, 2024
The European Union also called for “de-escalation of tensions” as it condemns “all unlawful, escalatory and coercive actions that undermine [these] principles of international law and threaten peace and stability in the region.”
In her post on X, EU Delegation to the Philippines Spokesperson Nabila Massarali shared EU’s statement, saying “the incident is the latest of several such actions during the past months, which endanger the safety of life at sea, and violate the right to freedom of navigation and overflight to which all nations are entitled under international law.”
The EU condemns the dangerous actions by Chinese Coast Guard vessels against lawful Philippine maritime operations in the South China Sea on August 31.
— Nabila Massrali (@NabilaEUspox) September 1, 2024
Read the full statement 👇 https://t.co/RU47Rh0uGo
“The EU insists that the UN Charter, the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and other relevant international norms relating to the safety of life at sea, as well as the Arbitration Award of 2016, should be upheld and respected at all times,” the statement read.
This includes, in particular, the prohibition on the use of force or coercion, and the right to freedom of navigation and overflight, the EU added.
