Chinese and Philippine officials met on Tuesday to discuss the South China Sea, with Beijing accusing Manila of “undermining peace and stability” in the disputed waters.
Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo confirmed that the talks – the first of their kind since January – are taking place in Manila and said he “hopes for the best,” news portal rappler.com reported.
Last week he said he hoped talks between the two sides would help manage tensions.
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This year, both sides have been involved in a series of confrontations in the disputed waters.
An example of this is the incident in which the Chinese Coast Guard intercepted a Philippine naval mission to resupply troops stationed at Second Thomas Shoal on June 17, leading to fighting that resulted in a Filipino sailor losing his thumb.
The Chinese intervention was the first since new rules came into effect allowing them to carry out “entry inspections” in waters that China claims as its own.
According to Manila, the Chinese coast guard was armed with machetes and knives, and Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said their actions were “deliberate, planned and escalating” and the “most aggressive” in recent years.
Since then, the two sides have continued to trade accusations back and forth. Most recently, Beijing accused the Philippines of “undermining peace and stability” by sending supplies to a coast guard ship stranded at Sabina Shoal in the Spratly Islands on Monday.
China said it had “monitored and supervised the entire process” as three Philippine coast guard ships “transferred personnel and equipment” to the “illegally stranded” vessel.
The coast guard statement released Tuesday afternoon affirmed Beijing’s “undisputed sovereignty over the Nansha Islands and adjacent waters, including the Xianbin Reef” — the Chinese names for the Spratly chain and the reef.
The stranded Philippine vessel was also accused of “violating China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests”.
It further stated that the Chinese Coast Guard would “protect the 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 aircraft carrier has been spotted in the region. Photo: Weibo/ 央广军事 alt=The Shandong aircraft carrier has been spotted in the region. Photo: Weibo/ 央广军事>
Sabina Shoal, which is fought over by both sides and Vietnam, also serves as a rendezvous point for Philippine ships conducting supply missions to troops stationed on the BRP Sierra Madre, a World War II ship deliberately run aground on the Second Thomas Shoal to bolster Manila’s territorial claims.
Second Thomas Shoal has been the scene of repeated clashes between the two sides in recent years, with Chinese coast guards regularly blocking supply missions to the reef. Beijing is concerned that these missions could be used to ferry construction materials to strengthen the aging ship and bolster the Philippine presence there.
Meanwhile, Manila accuses Beijing of trying to create an “artificial island” at Sabina Shoal, which is 75 nautical miles (140 km) off the Philippine island of Palawan.
China has rejected the claims and is concerned that the other side is trying to build an outpost on the reef.
Meanwhile, Beijing has expanded its presence in the South China Sea in recent weeks.
The 12,000-ton ship 5901, believed to be the world’s largest coast guard vessel, has been spotted near Second Thomas Shoal and Philippine-controlled Thitu Island, while the aircraft carrier Shandong has been spotted about 200 nautical miles off Luzon, the country’s largest island.
On Tuesday, the Philippine Navy said it was “aware” of both vessels.
This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP)the most authoritative voice covering China and Asia for over a century. For more SCMP stories, explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP’s Facebook And Twitter pages. Copyright © 2024 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
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