US, Others Condemn China After New Vessel Collision With Philippine Ship

The recent aggressive actions by Beijing in the South China Sea, including a collision between a Chinese coast guard ship and a Philippine vessel, have been condemned by the U.S. State Department and ambassadors from the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan. The State Department expressed support for the Philippines and denounced China’s dangerous behavior, emphasizing the importance of upholding international law. Additionally, the UK, Australia, and Japan voiced their concerns over Beijing’s escalations in the region, calling for respect for international law and adherence to previous legal rulings. The 2016 Arbitral Award is legally binding on the parties involved. The New Zealand Embassy in Manila has expressed deep concern over recent incidents in the region, calling them dangerous and destabilizing. Japanese Ambassador Endo Kazuya has reiterated Japan’s serious concerns over these incidents in the South China Sea. Japan opposes any unilateral actions to change the status quo by force and stands with the Philippines in upholding the rule of law at sea. Additionally, Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has lodged a strong protest after a Chinese naval survey vessel entered Japanese territorial waters near Kuchinoerabu island, following a recent intrusion by a Chinese military plane into Japanese airspace.

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