Philippines says military chief is on board Chinese warships

MANILA, Dec 11 (Reuters) – The Philippines said on Monday it had taken action by Chinese vessels against its ships carrying out reconnaissance missions in the South China Sea over the weekend – including and one with a senior Philippine military official on board – a “huge increase”.

Manila accused China’s coast guard and marines of repeatedly firing water cannons at its resupply ships, causing “extreme fire” to one, and “inadvertently” to the others. According to the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Romeo Brawner, he was on a boat that was splashed with water and pallets.

“This is a serious attack on the part of the representatives of the People’s Republic of China,” said Jonathan Malaya, the spokesman of the National Security Council, in a press conference where it was revealed by the officers photos and videos of water cannons and ramming.

Brawner told Philippine radio station DZBB that he was unharmed and that he does not believe the Chinese knew he was on the ship.

The Philippines has filed diplomatic protests and summoned China’s ambassador over its “aggressive” actions in the South China Sea, which a foreign ministry official called “a start in peace, live well and be safe”.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China said on Monday that they have filed complaints and strongly protested against the Philippines for what it said was a clash on Sunday.

The Philippine vessels “ignored the warnings of the Chinese coast guard and insisted on rushing to” the shoals near the Second Thomas Shoal, ministry spokesman Mao Ning said. in an interview, adding that China’s action is “professional, appropriate and legal”.

Philippine ships have been trying to revive military personnel stationed on a warship that was sunk years ago for use as a base.

According to Mao, the responsibility for the “current emergency” in the sea he argues lies with the Philippines, which “refused to pull out the warships that were condemned and tried to force them to obtain permanent residency”.

China has urged the Philippines to stop its “maritime crimes and provocations” and stop its “baseless and slanderous attacks” against China, he said.

Jay Batongbacal, a Manila-based expert on maritime law, said that the latest developments “are clearly another extension”.

“The use of water cannons at this time is not just for beating but it had a strong effect, and the destruction of ships. And the intervention of the media is another step on their threats,” said Batongbacal.

‘DISSONANCE’

This is not the first time that China has used water cannons against Philippine ships that are carrying out resupply operations for soldiers in areas occupied by Manila in the South China Sea; in August, the Philippines delayed a resupply mission for two weeks after its ships were sprayed.

The maritime tensions between the Philippines and China over the weekend, less than a month after the leaders of both nations met behind a economic summit in San Francisco to chart ways forward in South China Sea.

“There is a difference between what is said and promised and what is happening in the sea,” said the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Teresita Daza in the discussion on Monday.

The President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, has increasingly criticized the “restrictive” behavior of China, and he has sought a closer relationship with his treaty partner the United States.

China claims control over most of the South China Sea, pointing to a line on its maps that cuts through the exclusive economic zones of Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia. Taiwan, which China also claims as part of its territory, says it does not accept Beijing’s maps.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration said in 2016 that the line on China’s maps had no legal basis, a decision supported by the United States, but rejected by Beijing.

The United States has called out China for interfering with Philippine maritime activities and undermining regional stability, urging Beijing to stop “his terrible behavior and disorder” in special waters.

It reaffirmed his commitment between the two governments, Matthew Miller, the Spokesman of the Department of State said in a statement of December 10.

When asked about Washington’s comments, Mao said that the maritime dispute between China and the Philippines is a matter between the two countries, and that “no other party has the right to interfere”.

According to Malaya, there is no basis for China’s claims that the United States is increasing the power of the Philippines to provoke violence, and reiterated that the United States is not involved in resupply projects.

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