The United States led a list of countries, which released strongly worded statements criticizing China for allowing yet another violent water cannon attack on a Philippine vessel, as members of the international community reiterate their appeal for the rule of law to prevail in the South China Sea.
“The United States stands with its ally the Philippines and condemns the dangerous actions by the People’s Republic of China against lawful Philippine maritime operations in the South China Sea on March 23,” the US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a press statement.
The Philippine government through National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) lambasted the China Coast Guard on Saturday for damaging a Filipino supply vessel near the Ayungin Shoal with water cannons and injuring those on board.
Miller lamented over the weekend the repeated attacks and reckless blocking maneuvers of China Coast Guard vessels. He acknowledged that these actions resulted in significant damage to the Philippines’ resupply vessel, on top of serious physical injuries to its crew members.
The US State Department said the March 23 incident marks China’s constant pattern of aggression that undermines international law. It cited the July 2016 Arbitration Ruling that invalidates China’s claims to the entire South China Sea.
“The PRC has no lawful maritime claims to the waters around Second Thomas Shoal and Second Thomas Shoal is a low tide feature clearly within the Philippines exclusive economic zone,” Miller said in his statement.
“As provided under the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention, the 2016 arbitral decision is final and legally binding on the PRC and the Philippines, and the United States calls upon the PRC to abide by the ruling and desist from its dangerous and destabilizing conduct,” Miller added.
Canadian Ambassador David Hartman echoed the same perspective, saying the latest attacks by China threatens regional peace and stability. “We urge the peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law,” Hartman posted on X (formerly Twitter).
European Ambassador Luc Vernon likewise offered similar messages of concern. “The EU reiterates the call for all parties to abide by the legally binding Arbitration Award and international law to peacefully resolve disputes, guaranteeing safety for all in maritime waters,” he said.
Other countries that expressed solidarity with the Philippines through their ambassadors include Japan, France, Great Britain, Netherlands, Germany, Australia, among others. They all opposed China’s aggressive and irresponsible actions that jeopardize freedom of navigation.
Washington DC also reaffirmed 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 South China Sea.