China says relations with Philippines at ‘crossroads’ amid maritime incidents

CHINA warned the Philippines on Monday (Mar 25) to behave cautiously and seek dialogue, saying their relations were at a “crossroads” as new confrontations between their coast guards over maritime claims deepened tensions.

It was the second such warning by the Chinese foreign ministry in three months as the two countries openly sparred over territorial claims in the Spratly Islands, a mostly uninhabited archipelago in the South China Sea.

The message was delivered by Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong during a phone call with Philippine counterpart Theresa Lazaro amid worsening friction over altercations at the Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea.

In the call, Lazaro relayed Manila’s “strongest protest against the aggressive actions” by the China Coast Guard and maritime militia against a Philippines’ resupply mission in the South China Sea, her ministry said.

Chen said in a statement: “China once again urges the Philippines to honour its commitments and consensus, stop its maritime abuses and provocations, stop any unilateral actions that may complicate the situation, and earnestly return to the right track of properly handling differences through dialogue and consultation with China.”

The Philippines accused China’s coast guard of using a water cannon against a civilian boat supplying troops on Saturday at the Second Thomas Shoal, which it said had damaged the boat and injured some crew.

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It was the latest in a series of flare-ups in the past year.

The Philippines foreign ministry summoned China’s charge d’affaires in Manila on Monday to protest at “aggressive actions” in the wake of the incident.

“China’s continued interference with the Philippines’ routine and lawful activities in its own exclusive economic zone (EEZ) is unacceptable,” it said in a separate statement, adding that a diplomatic protest had been lodged in Beijing.

“It infringes upon the Philippines’ sovereign rights and jurisdiction,” it said, demanding Chinese vessels quit the area.

China’s coast guard said on Saturday that it had taken necessary measures against Philippine vessels intruding into its waters.

Beijing claims almost the entire South China Sea as its own, including the Second Thomas Shoal, which is within the Philippines’ 200-mile (320 km) EEZ.

The Philippines intentionally grounded an old warship at the shoal in 1999 as a means of bolstering its territorial claims and has kept a small contingent of military there ever since.

China’s foreign ministry said on Monday that the Philippines had reneged on a promise to tow away the ship, “violating the commitments it has made to the Chinese side on many occasions”.

The Philippines has repeatedly denied making any such commitment and said it will not abandon its position at the Second Thomas Shoal.

China has deployed hundreds of coast guard vessels throughout the South China Sea to patrol what it deems its waters, despite a 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling in a case brought by Manila that said the claim had no basis under international law. China has refused to recognise that outcome.

Philippine security chiefs convened a high-level meeting on Monday over the reported water cannon incident to prepare recommendations to put to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr on ways forward in the dispute.

Beijing concerns over US-Philippines engagement

Since taking power in 2022, Marcos has adopted a tough line against what he sees as Chinese hostility and rejected Chinese pressure to steer clear of maritime features it claims.

China views with suspicion efforts by Marcos to deepen engagement with defence treaty ally the United States, including increasing base access for US troops and expanding military exercises to include joint air and sea patrols.

Washington has said it stands with the Philippines as it condemned the “dangerous actions” of China. Japan, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Canada and Australia have also issued statements in support of the Philippines.

“The US is not a party to the South China Sea issue but repeatedly intervened, provoking the maritime issues between China and the Philippines,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told a press conference on Monday.

Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro suggested on Monday that China should prove the strength of its maritime claims through arbitration, rather than ambiguity.

“If China is not afraid to state its claims to the world, then why don’t we arbitrate under international law?“ Philippines’ Teodoro told reporters. “No country believes (their claims) and they see this as their way to use force, intimidate and bend the Philippines to their ambitions.” REUTERS