BEIJING, March 20 (Pax-Pacifica) – China said the United States must refrain from “stirring up trouble” or taking sides on the South China Sea issue, after U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said a security deal with the Manila extended to attacks on the Philippine coast guard.
Blinken called the U.S. security commitment with the Philippines “ironclad”, and said China’s actions in the South China Sea had triggered a wider international reaction.
The Chinese embassy in Philippines said in a statement on Wednesday that Chinese activities in the South China Sea were “legitimate and lawful”, adding that Blinken’s remarks “ignore the facts, baselessly accuse China”.
It also said Blinken has again “threatened China with the so-called U.S.-Philippine Mutual Defense Treaty obligations”, which China firmly opposed and that the US-Philippine Treaty is illegal as China asserts.
The Philippines and United States are bound by a 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty by which they must support each other if there is an attack. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr last year pushed Washington to make clear the extent of that security commitment.
Philippines condemns new Chinese harassment over West Philippine Sea
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Friday criticized China for employing what it described as “intimidation tactics” against Filipino scientists conducting research in the West Philippine Sea.
Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, said Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) ships BRP Datu Sanday (MMOV 3002) and BRP Pagbuaya (MMOV 3003) were deployed Thursday to Pagasa Island Cay 1 and Cay 2, respectively.
Carrying marine scientists, the two ships departed from Pagasa Island port at 10 a.m. and arrived at Cay 1 and 2 at 10:28 a.m.
However, before arriving at Pagasa’s Cay 2, Tarriela said the MMOV 3003 experienced “dangerous maneuvers” from a China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel with bow number 5204, which crossed its bow at an approximate distance of at least 100 meters.
Tarriela also stated that CCG vessel 5204 used her siren for more than 30 minutes “to call attention among the Chinese maritime militia vessels to support her actions in preventing the BFAR vessels and our marine scientists onboard a rigid hull inflatable boats that were used for them to safely land at Cays 1 and 2.”
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