Allies fire back at Beijing

The Philippines' allies responded immediately to condemn the recent act of intimidation by China, which subjected a navy vessel on a resupply mission to a water cannon attack last Friday.

Messages from various nations expressed concern and the need to honor rules-based international order while calling for respect of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea or UNCLOS, including the 2016 Arbitral Award.

The expression of support was led by the United States, which reiterated in a statement its full backing for the Philippines in the face of China's "repeated harassment" in the West Philippine Sea, or WPS.

The latest attack, with the use of a water cannon, tried to force a Filipino vessel to change course as it headed towards the beached BRP Sierra Madre on Ayungin Shoal.

"The United States stands shoulder-to-shoulder with our Philippine ally in the face of the People's Republic of China's repeated harassment in the WPS," the State Department said.

"The PRC's actions are inconsistent with international law and follow a pattern of dangerous operational behavior in the South China Sea," it added.

Washington underscored that the 2016 Arbitral Award is "legally binding on both the Philippines and the People's Republic of China, or PRC, and has "made clear that the PRC has no lawful territorial or maritime claim to Second Thomas (Ayungin) Shoal."

The 2016 award effectively invalidated China's sweeping claims in the WPS. China has repeatedly ignored the Philippines' sovereignty over the WPS while stating that it will not honor the decision of the arbitration body.

"We urge the PRC to respect the high seas freedom of navigation guaranteed to all States under international law," US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson said.

"The United States reaffirms that Article IV of the 1951 US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty extends to armed attacks on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft — including those of its Coast Guard — anywhere in the WPS," Carlson said.

Australia, Japan, the United Kingdom, the European Union, France and Germany issued statements seeking more responsible action from China.

In a statement, Australian Ambassador HK Yu expressed concern over China's "dangerous maneuvers."

Japanese Ambassador Kazuhiko Koshikawa said any harassment would only increase tensions that may affect the stability of the Indo-Pacific region.

"We give high importance to a free and open maritime order based on the rule of law, as Japan and the Philippines discussed during Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's visit last week. Any harassment and actions which increase tensions are not tolerated," Koshikawa said.

The Philippine government said China Coast Guard vessels with support from the Chinese maritime militia last Friday "recklessly harassed, blocked, and executed dangerous maneuvers" against Philippine resupply boats en route to its remote military outpost, the BRP Sierra Madre which is grounded on Ayungin Shoal.

Support reaffirmed

UK Ambassador Laure Beaufils reaffirmed her country's support to the Philippines to promote regional stability and rules-based international order.

"The UK notes the unsafe conduct again experienced by Philippine vessels on their resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal. We join the Philippines in calling out actions that undermine peace and stability in the South China Sea," Beaufils said.

French Ambassador Mariel Fontanel reaffirmed France's "continuous support" to the Philippine Coast Guard during a meeting with its commandant, Vice Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan.

Fontanel also hailed the "eventually successful" resupply mission.

German Ambassador to the Philippines Andreas Pfaffernoschke reposted the 10 November report of the National Task Force-West Philippine Sea on the country's latest resupply and rotation mission.

"Given today's event in the South China Sea, Germany reiterates its support for the Philippines in advocating respect for international law in the South China Sea as an essential pillar for peace and security," he said.

House backs Marcos policy

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives emphasized its full backing of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s policy to secure and protect the WPS.

Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said, "Make no mistake about it. The House of Representatives fully supports the position of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. that we should continue to assert our sovereignty in the WPS and that we should defend every inch of our territory."

Senators on Saturday expressed opposition to China's most recent actions.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri strongly condemned the Chinese Coast Guard's blocking maneuvers and the use of a water cannon against  the Philippine supply boats, saying that China is behaving like "a bully."

Senator Risa Hontiveros criticized China's pattern of abuse which has become the primary cause of the increasing tensions in the WPS.

"China is an abuser. It is unfortunate that while this recent incident is alarming, it is not entirely surprising. This pattern of abuse is one that China has mastered and will continue to follow without remorse," she said.

Senator Francis Tolentino called China's continuing dangerous actions in the WPS "modern maritime piracy."

He said China's unlawful activities are posing a direct threat to international peace and security as well as undermining the principle of maritime safety for navigators in the WPS.

      With Edjen Oliquino and Jing Villamente