Nations express concern over China assault vs. PH vessel in Sandy Cay
Several countries have expressed concern after a Chinese vessel fired a water cannon and sideswiped a Philippine ship in Sandy Cay on Thursday.
These nations include the United States, United Kingdom, European Union, Japan, Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Netherlands.
US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay L. Carlson said the action of the China Coast Guard (CCG) threatens regional stability.
'The China Coast Guard's aggressive actions against a lawful ???????? civilian mission near Sandy Cay recklessly endangered lives and threaten regional stability. We stand with our ???????? allies in support of international law and a #FreeAndOpenIndoPacific,' she said.
British Ambassador to the Philippines Laure Beaufils condemned the CCG's activity and pointed out that international law must be observed.
'The UK condemns latest dangerous activity by the Chinese Coast Guard against Philippines civilian vessels near Sandy Cay today, risking lives & raising tensions. A worrying escalation of behaviour. International law & the legally binding 2016 Arbitral Award must be respected,' she said.
The UK condemns latest dangerous activity by the Chinese Coast Guard against Philippines civilian vessels near Sandy Cay today, risking lives & raising tensions. A worrying escalation of behaviour.
International law & the legally binding 2016 Arbitral Award must be respected. — Ambassador Laure Beaufils ???????? (@LaureBeaufils) May 22, 2025
European Union (EU) Ambassador to the Philippines Massimo Santoro expressed support to the Philippines as he reiterated that the 2016 South China Sea arbitration must be upheld.
'Very concerned about the latest dangerous actions against Philippine civilian scientific vessels in the South China Sea. EU stands with PH and reiterates the importance of upholding UNCLOS and the rules-based international order, including the 2016 South China Sea arbitration,' he said.
Very concerned about the latest dangerous actions against Philippine civilian scientific vessels in the South China Sea. ???????? stands with ???????? and reiterates the importance of upholding UNCLOS and the rules-based international order, including the 2016 South China Sea arbitration. — EU Ambassador to the PH ???????????????? (@EUAmbPH) May 22, 2025
Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Endo Kazuya said their country stands firm in defending a free and open Indo-Pacific following the Chinese vessel's use of water cannons against the Philippine ship.
'Very concerned about the dangerous actions including use of water cannons against th PH BFAR vessel. Japan upholds the rule of law & stands firm in defending a Free ? Open Indo-Pacific,' he said.
Very concerned about the dangerous actions including use of water cannons against the???????? BFAR vessel.???????? upholds the rule of law & stands firm in defending a Free ? Open Indo-Pacific.#FOIP — Ambassador of Japan in the Philippines (@AmbJPNinPH) May 22, 2025
The Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on the involved parties to exercise restraint and resolve disputes peacefully.
'MOFA is deeply concerned by China Coast Guard's dangerous actions against #Philippine civilian vessels near Sandy Cay. Such coercion threatens regional peace. Taiwan stands with the Philippines & urges all parties to exercise restraint & resolve disputes peacefully,' it said.
MOFA is deeply concerned by China Coast Guard's dangerous actions against #Philippine civilian vessels near Sandy Cay. Such coercion threatens regional peace. #Taiwan???????? stands with the #Philippines???????? & urges all parties to exercise restraint & resolve disputes peacefully. https://t.co/VzRiYmYepa — ??? Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ROC (Taiwan) ???????? (@MOFA_Taiwan) May 22, 2025
Australian Ambassador to the Philippines HK Yu said China's actions against the Philippines are dangerous and destabilising.
'Australia is concerned by the latest actions directed against the Philippines, which are dangerous and destabilising. We reiterate our call for peace, stability, and respect for UNCLOS in the South China Sea - a vital international waterway,' she said.
Australia is concerned by the latest actions directed against the Philippines, which are dangerous and destabilising. We reiterate our call for peace, stability, and respect for UNCLOS in the South China Sea - a vital international waterway. — Australian Ambassador to the Philippines (@AusAmbPH) August 6, 2023
The New Zealand Embassy in Manila said the actions against Philippine ships are troubling as the use of water cannons and contact between vessels risk safety at sea.
'Yesterday's dangerous actions against PH scientific vessels near Sandy Cay are troubling. Use of water cannons and contact between vessels risks safety at sea. Peaceful resolution of maritime disputes in accordance with UNCLOS is fundamental to regional stability,' it said.
The Embassy of Canada in the Philippines opposed China's coercive and intimidation activities in the South China Sea.
'Canada is alarmed by China's latest dangerous actions in the South China Sea, including the use of water cannons and ramming a civilian Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources vessel conducting marine scientific research near Sandy Cay. We strongly oppose China's coercive and intimidation activities in the South China Sea, including near Sandy Cay,' it said.
Meanwhile, the Netherlands' Ambassador to the Philippines Marielle Geraedts pointed out the importance of freedom of navigation following the incident in Sandy Cay.
'Freedom of navigation is important to us all. We are concerned about the use of watercanons and dangerous manouvres against civilian vessels today. The Netherlands stand with the Philippines in upholding #UNCLOS and the 2016 arbitral ruling,' she said.
Freedom of navigation is important to us all. We are concerned about the use of watercanons and dangerous manouvres against civilian vessels today. ???????? stand with ???????? in upholding #UNCLOS and the 2016 arbitral ruling. — Marielle Geraedts (@geraedtsmariel) May 22, 2025
CCG vessel 21559 reportedly fired water cannon and sideswiped a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessel in Pag-asa Cay 2 (Sandy Cay) in the WPS on Thursday.
BFAR said its BRP Datu Sanday and BRP Datu Pagbuaya were on a routine mission with a scientific team to collect sand samples in the area when the incident happened.
CCG said that it took "control measures" against the Philippine vessels which it said "illegally intruded" into waters near Subi Reef and Sandy Cay.
Liu Dejun, the CCG spokesperson, claimed that one of the Philippine vessels "dangerously" approached and collided with their ship, and that responsibility "lies entirely" with the Philippine side.
Tensions continue as Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual shipborne commerce, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei.
Parts of the South China Sea that fall within Philippine territory have been renamed by the government as West Philippine Sea to reinforce the country's claim.
The West Philippine Sea refers to the maritime areas on the western side of the Philippine archipelago including Luzon Sea and the waters around, within and adjacent to the Kalayaan Island Group and Bajo de Masinloc.
In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines over China's claims in the South China Sea, saying that it had "no legal basis."
China has refused to recognize the decision.—AOL, GMA Integrated News
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