South China Sea: China’s envoy to Philippines lodges protest over weekend clashes

Name: Philippines accuses China of using water cannons to obstruct its vessels in South China Sea
Uploaded: 2023-12-12T05:16:02.000Z
Duration: 1 min
Description: Philippines accuses China of using water cannons to obstruct its vessels in South China Sea

While meeting Philippine foreign undersecretary Theresa Lazaro, Huang Xilian says China has ‘indisputable sovereignty’ over islands

US State Department says it backs Manila and that Beijing’s actions show ‘reckless disregard’ for international law and safety and livelihoods of Filipinos

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An image from video provided by the Philippine Coast Guard shows a Chinese Coast Guard ship, bottom, using a water cannon on a Philippine ship, BRP Cabra, centre, as it approaches Second Thomas Shoal on Sunday. Photo: Philippine Coast Guard

Dewey Sim

Published: 1:16pm, 12 Dec 2023Updated: 2:20pm, 12 Dec 2023

China’s envoy to the Philippines lodged “strong protests” with Manila over multiple clashes in the South China Sea last week, urging the Southeast Asian country to “stop its maritime infringements” as tensions between the two countries escalated.

According to the Chinese embassy, Huang Xilian filed “solemn representations and strong protests” when he met Philippine foreign undersecretary Theresa Lazaro on Monday and stressed that China had “indisputable sovereignty” over islands in the South China Sea.

“China urges the Philippines to stop its maritime infringements and provocations, meet China halfway, return to the right track of dialogue and consultation to properly resolve differences, and jointly safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea,” the embassy said.

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Philippines accuses China of using water cannons to obstruct its vessels in South China Sea

Chinese and Philippine vessels clashed in two separate confrontations over the weekend – one near Scarborough Shoal on Saturday and another near the Second Thomas Shoal on Sunday. Both shoals are claimed by Beijing and Manila.

In one incident on Saturday, Manila’s National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea accused Chinese coastguard ships of firing water cannons at its vessels while conducting a routine resupply and rotation vessel. The task force called China’s actions “illegal” and urged Beijing to halt its “aggressive activities”.

A similar face-off took place a day later, with the Philippines saying China’s coastguard “harassed, blocked and executed dangerous manoeuvres” on its civilian supply ships. China again used water cannons, according to Manila, causing damage to several vessels.

“The systematic and consistent manner in which the People’s Republic of China carries out these illegal and irresponsible actions puts into question and significant doubt the sincerity of its calls for peaceful dialogue,” the task force said in a statement.