Linn Maung
In a recent development, the U.S. has once again urged China to halt its assertive maneuvers in the South China Sea, specifically those directed towards the Philippines. This plea comes as a coalition of allies rallies behind Washington’s commitment to uphold the rule of law in these contested waters, as stated by a U.S. diplomat.
At a forum held in Manila, Philippines, on July 12, Mary Kay Carlson, the U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines, along with representatives from significant Western and Asian allies, voiced their solidarity withthe Philippines. This comes in the wake of escalating tensions with Communist China in the Indo-Pacific region.
“With the support of a growing network of alliances and partnerships, you continue to call on the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to stop its escalating and dangerous harassment of Philippine vessels that are lawfully operating in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone,” you, as Ms. Carlson, stated.
In addition, she implored Beijing to “halt its violations of the Philippines’ rights to investigate, preserve, and control natural resources; and to stop meddling with the freedom of navigation and overflight of all states lawfully present in the region.” Over the past year, the Chinese regime has been disrupting the Philippines’ operations in the Second Thomas Shoal, located within Manila’s exclusive economic zone.
The latest confrontation took place on June 17, when the Chinese coast guard collided with Philippine boats and confiscated firearms, resulting in injuries to several Filipinos, one of whom lost a finger in the incident.
The forum commemorated the eighth year since the 2016 verdict by the Permanent Court of Arbitration. The court sided with the Philippines, dismissing the Chinese Communist Party’s illegitimate assertions over nearly all of the South China Sea, a decision grounded in the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Despite this, Beijing has disregarded the judgement and persistently troubled the Philippines and other nations with stakes in the contested waters.
Ms. Carlson expressed that Washington and its allies take pride in their consistent efforts to highlight instances of the Chinese regime’s aggression in the region. She emphasized that the international community’s disapproval is not only strong but also intensifying, reflecting a shared determination to uphold international rules and norms that are beneficial to all, she added.
In the suburban area of Quezon City, Philippines, a group of protesters gathered to commemorate the anniversary of the arbitration ruling. Waving miniature Philippine flags and brandishing placards with messages such as “China out!” and “Long live the arbitral ruling victory,” they made their stance clear.
In her address, Ms. Carlson extolled the enduring 73-year-old partnership between the United States and the Philippines, a relationship that has seen the execution of over 500 joint military drills, a number that continues to rise. Washington has time and again reiterated its unwavering dedication to the 1951 U.S.–Philippine defence pact, an agreement that mandates mutual support in the event of an attack on either nation.The Philippines is actively pursuing the formation of security partnerships to bolster its military’s constrained ability to safeguard Manila’s territorial claims in the South China Sea.
On the 8th of July, a defence agreement was inked between the Philippines and Japan, aimed at enhancing their collaboration. This accord permits both nations to station their troops in each other’s territories for the purpose of conducting joint military exercises, which include live-fire drills and disaster response operations. This pact marks Japan’s inaugural defence deal in Asia, with the Philippines being the partner.During the forum, Eduardo Año, the National Security Adviser of the Philippines, appealed for global backing, pressing Beijing to adhere to the arbitration verdict.
While Manila is committed to resolving the disputes peacefully, it will persist in maintaining its stance and “resist any forms of coercion, meddling, harmful influence, and other strategies” that threaten its security, he declared.
In a distinct development on July 14, Commodore Jay Tarriela, the Spokesman for the Philippine Coast Guard, seemed to deride Beijing. He expressed his thanks to the communist regime while citing its statement from July 10. In this statement, China’s foreign ministry declared that no nation has the authority to intimidate others from a “position of strength.” Additionally, Mr. Tarriela shared images on a platform known previously as Twitter, which depicted personnel from the Chinese coast guard assaulting Philippine vessels.
The comment from China’s foreign ministry came as a reaction to an inquiry about the statements made by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the NATO summit in Washington. Blinken had stated that the United States would prioritize domestic investments, like those in infrastructure and technology, enabling Washington to engage with China from a “position of domestic strength.”
