Chinese and Philippine officials met to debate the South China Sea on Tuesday, whilst Beijing accused Manila of “undermining peace and stability” within the disputed waters.
Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo confirmed the talks – the primary of their type since January – have been happening in Manila and stated he was “hoping for the best”, information portal rappler.com reported.
Last week he had stated he hoped talks between the 2 sides would assist handle tensions.
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The two sides have been concerned in a series of confrontations within the disputed waters this yr.
These embody an incident the place Chinese coastguards intercepted a Philippine naval mission to resupply troops stationed on the Second Thomas Shoal on June 17, resulting in clashes during which a Philippine sailor misplaced a thumb.
The Chinese intervention was the primary since new guidelines got here into drive permitting them to hold out “boarding inspections” in waters China claims as its personal.
Manila stated the Chinese coastguards had been armed with machetes and knives, and Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad stated their actions had been “deliberate, planned and escalatory” and the “most aggressive” in recent years.
Since then the 2 sides have continued to commerce accusations, most lately with Beijing accusing the Philippines of “undermining peace and stability” for sending provides to a coastguard vessel stranded at Sabina Shoal within the Spratly Islands on Monday.
China stated it had “followed and supervised the whole process” as three Philippine coastguard vessels “transferred personnel and materials” to the “illegally stranded” ship.
The coastguard assertion launched on Tuesday afternoon asserted Beijing’s “indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha Islands and its adjacent waters, including Xianbin Reef” – the Chinese names for the Spratly chain and the reef.
It additionally accused the stranded Philippine vessel of “violating China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests”.
It went on to say that the Chinese coastguard would “safeguard rights and enforce the law in the waters under its jurisdiction and resolutely defend China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests”.
The Shandong plane service has been noticed within the area. Photo: Weibo/ 央广军事 alt=The Shandong plane service has been noticed within the area. Photo: Weibo/ 央广军事>
Sabina Shoal – which is disputed between the 2 sides and Vietnam – additionally serves because the assembly level for Philippine vessels on resupply missions to troops stationed on the BRP Sierra Madre, a second world warfare vessel intentionally grounded on Second Thomas Shoal to claim Manila’s territorial claims.
Second Thomas Shoal has been the scene of repeated clashes between the 2 sides in recent years, with Chinese coastguards repeatedly blocking resupply missions to the reef. Beijing is apprehensive that these missions could possibly be used to switch building supplies to fortify the ageing ship and bolster the Philippine presence there.
Meanwhile, Manila has accused Beijing of making an attempt to create an “artificial island” at Sabina Shoal – which is 75 nautical miles (140km) from the Philippine island of Palawan.
China has rejected the claims and is worried that the opposite facet is making an attempt to construct an outpost on the reef.
Meanwhile, Beijing has been build up its presence within the South China Sea over the previous couple of weeks.
The 12,000-tonne Ship 5901 – which is believed to be the world’s largest coastguard vessel – has been noticed close to Second Thomas Shoal and the Philippine-controlled Thitu island, whereas the Shandong plane service has been noticed round 200 nautical miles off Luzon, the nation’s largest island.
On Tuesday the Philippine Navy stated it was “aware of” each ships.
This article initially appeared within the South China Morning Post (SCMP), probably the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for greater than a century. For extra SCMP tales, please discover the SCMP app or go to the SCMP’s Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright © 2024 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
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