Latest news with #ChineseCoastGuard
Asharq Al-Awsat
3 days ago
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Philippines Says China Has No Right to Object or Interfere with Its ‘Lawful' Activities in South China Sea
The Philippine foreign ministry said on Thursday that China has no right to object to or interfere with its lawful and routine activities in the South China Sea. The ministry said it also "rejects and refutes" recent statements of the Chinese embassy in Manila that Beijing has indisputable sovereignty over the Spratly islands. The Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Taiwan and China between them have claims and a presence on dozens of features in the Spratly archipelago, ranging from reefs and rocks to islands, natural and artificial. China's manmade islands there include runways, radar towers, ports and missile systems. "We urge China to respect the Philippines' sovereignty and jurisdiction, even as we continue to pursue peaceful and legal means to manage differences and the situation at sea," foreign ministry spokesperson Teresita Daza said in a statement. China and the Philippines traded accusations last week following a confrontation between two of their vessels in contested waters of the South China Sea, the latest incident in a long-running row in the strategic waterway. The Philippines' fisheries bureau said the lives of a civilian crew were put at risk when the Chinese coast guard fired water cannons and sideswiped a vessel as it conducted marine research around a disputed reef. The Chinese coast guard said two Philippine vessels had illegally entered waters near Subi Reef, a Chinese-built artificial island, and organized personnel to land on the unoccupied sandbars of Sandy Cay. "The Philippines is clearly within its rights to conduct routine maritime operations and scientific research in and around these features, and will continue to do so," Daza said. "China has no right to object much less interfere with these lawful and routine activities." China claims sovereignty over nearly all the South China Sea, including parts of the exclusive economic zones of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. An international arbitral tribunal in 2016 said Beijing's expansive claim has no basis under international law. The Chinese embassy in its statement sent to media on Monday said the Philippines had since January made 27 "unauthorized landings" on features, despite a 2002 agreement among Southeast Asian countries and China to refrain from doing so.
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Philippines accuses China of aggressive tactics in South China Sea
An aerial photo from March 2024 showing Philippine scientists inspecting Sandy Cay reef, near Thitu Island, in the Spratly archipelago. PHOTO: AFP MANILA – The Philippines' fisheries bureau said the lives of a civilian crew were put at risk when the Chinese Coast Guard fired water cannon and sideswiped one of its vessels while it conducted marine research around a disputed South China Sea reef. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources condemned what it said was 'aggressive interference' of the Chinese Coast Guard against the Datu Sanday and a second ship in the May 21 incident, saying its vessels had not previously been subjected to water cannon in the area. The Chinese Embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the May 22 statement by the bureau. Sandy Cay is close to Thitu Island, the largest and most strategically important of the nine features that the Philippines occupies in the Spratly archipelago, where China, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam also have a presence. I n April, China said its coast guard had landed on Sandy Cay as part of operations to exercise its sovereignty. The Philippines has denied that Beijing has seized control of the disputed reef. China claims sovereignty over nearly all the South China Sea, including areas claimed by Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. A 2016 ruling of an international arbitral tribunal found that Beijing's sweeping claims had no basis under international law, a decision that China rejects. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
China urges Philippines to stop provocation in South China Sea
A Philippine Coast Guard ship surrounded by Chinese maritime militia vessels and a Chinese Coast Guard ship in the South China Sea in 2023. PHOTO: REUTERS BEIJING - China's foreign ministry on May 23 urged the Philippines to immediately stop "infringement and provocation" in the South China Sea or face China's "resolute response." The remarks came a day after Beijing and Manila traded accusations following a confrontation between two of their vessels in contested waters of the South China Sea. It was legitimate for China to take necessary measures, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a daily press conference on May 23, defending the Chinese coast guard's response to the Philippine ships. The China Coast Guard on May 22 said it took "control measures" against Philippine ships and confirmed a collision occurred between the two sides' vessels. The US ambassador to Manila, MaryKay Carlson, described China's actions as aggressive and, in a post on X on May 22, said they "recklessly endangered lives and threaten regional stability." When asked about Ms Carlson's comment, Ms Mao told reporters: "We advise the US side not to use the Philippines to stir up trouble in the South China Sea, and not to undermine peace and stability in the region." Coast guard vessels from the Philippines and the US took part for the first time in joint maritime exercises with naval and air force units in the contested South China Sea earlier this week. China has accused the US of sowing discord in the region. China claims almost the entire South China Sea, despite overlapping claims by Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. A 2016 ruling of an international arbitral tribunal said Beijing's claims, based on its historic maps, have no basis under international law, a decision China does not recognise. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Philippines says China has no right to interfere with its ‘lawful' activities in the South China Sea
A Philippine Coast Guard ship seen surrounded by Chinese maritime militia vessels and a Chinese Coast Guard ship in the South China Sea, on Oct 4, 2023. PHOTO: REUTERS Philippines says China has no right to interfere with its 'lawful' activities in the South China Sea MANILA - The Philippine foreign ministry said on May 29 that China has no right to object to or interfere with its lawful and routine activities in the South China Sea. The ministry said it also 'rejects and refutes' recent statements of the Chinese embassy in Manila that Beijing has indisputable sovereignty over the Spratly islands. The Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Taiwan and China between them have claims and a presence on dozens of features in the Spratly archipelago, ranging from reefs and rocks to islands, natural and artificial. China's manmade islands there include runways, radar towers, ports and missile systems. 'We urge China to respect the Philippines' sovereignty and jurisdiction, even as we continue to pursue peaceful and legal means to manage differences and the situation at sea,' foreign ministry spokesperson Teresita Daza said in a statement. China and the Philippines traded accusations last week following a confrontation between two of their vessels in contested waters of the South China Sea, the latest incident in a long-running row in the strategic waterway. The Philippines' fisheries bureau said the lives of a civilian crew were put at risk when the Chinese coast guard fired water cannons and sideswiped a vessel as it conducted marine research around a disputed reef. The Chinese coast guard said two Philippine vessels had illegally entered waters near Subi Reef, a Chinese-built artificial island, and organised personnel to land on the unoccupied sandbars of Sandy Cay. 'The Philippines is clearly within its rights to conduct routine maritime operations and scientific research in and around these features, and will continue to do so,' Ms Daza said. 'China has no right to object much less interfere with these lawful and routine activities.' China claims sovereignty over nearly all the South China Sea, including parts of the exclusive economic zones of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. An international arbitral tribunal in 2016 said Beijing's expansive claim has no basis under international law. The Chinese embassy in its statement sent to media on May 26 said the Philippines had since January made 27 'unauthorised landings' on features, despite a 2002 agreement among South-east Asian countries and China to refrain from doing so. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Al Arabiya
3 days ago
- Business
- Al Arabiya
Philippines says China has no right to object to ‘lawful' activities in South China Sea
The Philippine foreign ministry said on Thursday that China has no right to object to or interfere with its lawful and routine activities in the South China Sea. The ministry said it also 'rejects and refutes' recent statements of the Chinese embassy in Manila that Beijing has indisputable sovereignty over the Spratly islands. The Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Taiwan and China between them have claims and a presence on dozens of features in the Spratly archipelago, ranging from reefs and rocks to islands, natural and artificial. China's manmade islands there include runways, radar towers, ports and missile systems. 'We urge China to respect the Philippines' sovereignty and jurisdiction, even as we continue to pursue peaceful and legal means to manage differences and the situation at sea,' foreign ministry spokesperson Teresita Daza said in a statement. China and the Philippines traded accusations last week following a confrontation between two of their vessels in contested waters of the South China Sea, the latest incident in a long-running row in the strategic waterway. The Philippines' fisheries bureau said the lives of a civilian crew were put at risk when the Chinese coast guard fired water cannons and sideswiped a vessel as it conducted marine research around a disputed reef. The Chinese coast guard said two Philippine vessels had illegally entered waters near Subi Reef, a Chinese-built artificial island, and organized personnel to land on the unoccupied sandbars of Sandy Cay. 'The Philippines is clearly within its rights to conduct routine maritime operations and scientific research in and around these features, and will continue to do so,' Daza said. 'China has no right to object much less interfere with these lawful and routine activities.' China claims sovereignty over nearly all the South China Sea, including parts of the exclusive economic zones of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. An international arbitral tribunal in 2016 said Beijing's expansive claim has no basis under international law. The Chinese embassy in its statement sent to media on Monday said the Philippines had since January made 27 'unauthorized landings' on features, despite a 2002 agreement among Southeast Asian countries and China to refrain from doing so.
