go through Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio, reporter
The Philippines accused China of endangering Philippine researchers in the South China Sea on Thursday, saying its Coast Guard harassed two Filipino civilian vessels on a controversial reef on Wednesday, further exacerbating tensions on the disputed waterways.
Philippine ship BRP DATU SANDAY and BRP DATU PAGBUAYA According to the Fisheries Bureau in Manila, daily scientific missions to collect sand samples in Sandy Cay, where they encountered “dangerous actions and illegal acts” by Chinese Coast Guard and militia ships.
The Chinese Embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to Viber's information seeking comments.
A Chinese Coast Guard is in BRP DATU SANDAY The Fisheries and Water Resources Bureau said in a statement that this was the first time that it was used on a disputed reef – before hitting the vessel, damaging its bow and chimney.
“Despite radical disruption, dangerous actions and illegal actions of the Chinese Coast Guard and Chinese maritime militia ships, the Philippine scientific team was able to complete its operations on Pag-Asa Cays 1, 2 and 3,” the Fisheries Bureau said.
It added: “The incident occurred within the territory of the Philippines.”
Amid the ongoing dispute between the two countries in the South China Sea, sandbanks have become an ongoing dispute, and they both make competitive claims. The confrontation between Manila and Beijing, which has other marine characteristics, involves the use of water cannons and side mills of Chinese vessels on Filipino ships.
Manila condemned the act as aggressive and illegal, while Beijing keeps its actions aimed at defending China's sovereignty.
According to nine markings from the 1940s, nearly all potential mineral and oil-rich South China Sea overlaps with exclusive water from the Philippines and neighbors such as Vietnam and Malaysia.
Chinese state media reported in mid-April that the Chinese Coast Guard claimed sovereignty over Sandy Reef in the function by landing and displaying Beijing's national flag.
But Manila denied China's claims on sandbanks and soon deployed its own troops to strengthen its stance and challenge Beijing's control.
Located near Thitu Island, the Philippines maintains a military post and has lived in a small Filipino community since 1971.
Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Western Philippine Sea Brigadier Jay T.
He added: “We will still exercise sovereignty and sovereign rights at the sea of the West Philippines.”
Mr Tarriela declined to say whether the PCG ship would escort future scientific research missions to the sandbars, but confirmed that Coast Guard personnel were on board during Wednesday's operation.
Hai Law Regulations
Meanwhile, a Philippine lawyer said Thursday that the final code of conduct in the controversial South China Sea must be consistent with international maritime law and insist on Manila's victory in arbitration against Beijing.
“The Code of Conduct should not have any provision to oversee the provisions of the United Nations Legal Convention (UNCLOS),” said Fretti G. Ganchoon, senior legal counsel for the Ministry of Justice of Manila.
She added: “UNCLOS is considered the highest instrument of the Marine Constitution, so the Code of Conduct must be consistent with it. It is impossible that there are rules there that would undermine the arbitral award.”
Manila filed a legal lawsuit against China in 2013 for blocking the blockade of Philippine ships to the Scarborough Shoal, the main fishing ground claimed by the two countries that Beijing has been controlling since 2012.
In 2016, a UN-backed court ruled that China interfered with the right of Filipino fishermen to enter the region. It also made claims for its widespread marine claims in disputed bodies of water due to illegal bodies of water. Despite the ruling, Beijing still deployed ships on maritime features to argue its claims.
Southeast Asian countries (ASEAN) and the Chinese Association promised in 2002 a code of conduct in the South China Sea, a framework designed to prevent conflict through diplomatic means, but it remains elusive due to slow progress.
Philippine Foreign Minister Enrique A. Manalo said last month that ASEAN and Beijing “political commitments” to finalize the South China Sea Code next year when the Philippines holds regional groups next year.
“In the early stages, we need to use UNCLOS as a framework,” Hamzah bin Ishak, deputy director of national security of the Malaysian National Security Council, said on the same forum.
“We are not living in the jungle where people can do anything,” he added. “We believe UNCLOS remains important in disputes over rights and responsibilities at sea.”
Mr Hamzah said that “political solutions” beyond international treaties should be explored only when negotiations are in a deadlock. “I think ASEAN will continue to use the framework in negotiations.”
