Australia has condemned the aggressive actions of the Chinese military towards the Philippine Coast Guard in the South China Sea. The Australian government shares the Philippines’ condemnation of the recent incident where a China Coast Guard vessel rammed into the Philippine Coast Guard’s ship at Sabina Shoal on Aug. 31.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) of Australia stated that such conduct poses serious risks to crew members and undermines efforts to de-escalate tensions in the region. This marks the fifth maritime confrontation between the two countries at the disputed territory in a month.
The Philippine ship, Teresa Magbanua, sustained damage but no crew members were harmed in the incident. The Chinese Communist Party blamed the Philippines for the collision, claiming that the Philippine vessel was illegally present in Chinese territory.
Australia called on China to adhere to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and urged for restraint. The 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award was emphasized as final and legally binding on all parties.
The New Zealand embassy in Manila also expressed concern over the Chinese military’s actions and called for compliance with UNCLOS. Ambassadors from various countries, including the United States, the UK, and Japan, condemned Beijing’s actions and showed support for the Philippines.
Despite Beijing’s readiness to engage in dialogue through diplomatic channels, the Chinese military has displayed increased aggression in the region both at sea and in the air. The Philippine Navy reported a higher number of Chinese ships in the South China Sea, with instances of dangerous maneuvers by Chinese fighter jets near Philippine aircraft.
The international community continues to monitor the situation closely and calls for peaceful resolutions to avoid further escalation of tensions in the South China Sea.
Source link
