Foreign countries call out China over recent dangerous acts, harassment vs Phl ships in Ayungin

More foreign countries have emphasized the need to respect rules-based international order and called for respect for the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, specifically the 2016 Arbitral Award.

This came after China's most recent "dangerous behavior" against the Filipino vessels while on a resupply mission in the waters off the West Philippine Sea, which the embassies described as undermining the peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

Several envoys from the United States, Australia, Japan, United Kingdom, along with the ambassadors of the European Union, including France and Germany, have separately expressed opposition to China's blocking maneuvers against the Philippines only sailing on its exclusive economic zone in WPS.

MaryKay Carlson, US Ambassador to the Philippines, criticized the "continued harassment" by the People's Republic of China against the Filipino vessels that legally conducted maritime missions at the Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal in the WPS.

"Despite continued PRC harassment, the Philippines successfully and lawfully resupplied its forces on the BRP Sierra Madre at Ayungin Shoal, located wholly within the Philippine EEZ," said Carlson in a statement over the weekend.

"The US and the Philippines stand together as friends, partners, and allies for a free and open Indo-Pacific," she continued.

In a separate statement, Australian Ambassador to the Philippines HK Yu expressed concern over China's dangerous maneuvers and use of water canon against the Philippine vessels.

"Australia is again concerned by dangerous conduct, including the use of water cannons, by China's vessels in the Philippines' EEZ. Upholding international law, especially UNCLOS is fundamental to international peace and security," she said.
Moreover, Japanese Ambassador Kazuhiko Koshikawa said any harassment would only increase tension 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, the Philippines discussed during Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's visit last week. Any harassment and actions which increase tensions are not tolerated," said Koshikawa.
The Philippine government said the vessels of China Coast Guard, with the support of the Chinese Maritime Militia, have "recklessly harassed, blocked, and executed dangerous maneuvers" the country's resupply ships en route to its remote military outpost, BRP Sierra Madre (LS 57) in Ayungin Shoal on Friday.

Philippines lambasted China's latest aggression, in an attempt to "illegally impede and obstruct" the country's regular rotation and reprovisioning (RoRe) mission for its troops stationed in the area.

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

"The UK notes 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.

"We are committed to UNCLOS, under which the 2016 Arbitral Award is final and legally binding on both parties," she added.

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

Fontanel also hailed the "eventually successful" resupply mission.

Further, German Ambassador to the Philippines Andreas Pfaffernoschke also reposted the 10 November report of the National Task Force – West Philippine Sea on the country's latest resupply and rotation mission.
"In view of 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.
The Philippines has already raised the latest Ayungin incident with the total number of diplomatic protests filed against China now at 125, since the start of the Marcos administration.

The 2016 Arbitral Award effectively invalidated China's sweeping claims in the SCS, which overlaps the EEZ and continental of the Philippines in the WPS.
China has repeatedly ignored the Philippines' sovereignty over the WPS.