Amid Tension with PH, Chinese Government Speaks on South China Sea Issue
CHINESE GOVERNMENT – China issued a statement saying it is committed to managing difference with the Philippines but its patience is “limited”.
One of the long-standing national issues in the Philippines is its territorial dispute with China. It has been in decades of rivalry with China over some parts of the South China Sea with the latter being also consistent on its claims even if it was junked by an international body.
The territorial dispute between the Philippines and China has reached the Arbitral Tribunal which investigated the matter. In 2016, the Tribunal released the Arbitral Ruling siding the Philippines on the territorial dispute.
However, such decision was not recognized by China. The Chinese government has even reacted negatively on the ruling calling it “null and void”.
China did not stop from pushing through with its claims on the disputed island. It even built structures on it and the presence of the Chinese authorities is constantly felt. There were previous dangerous incidents between Chinese and Filipino authorities.
Countless officials of the Philippine government has continuously reacted on the territorial disputes between China and the Philippines. Recently, Vice President Sara Duterte explained her silence on the West Philippine Sea citing the President’s role on foreign policies.
Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, one of the latest incidents involving the Filipino and Chinese authorities in the disputed islands occurred near the Sabina Shoal last Sunday. The Philippine task force assigned in the South China Sea said vessels of the Chinese government rammed and used water cannons against the ship of the Philippine Bureau of Fisheries.
The Philippine vessel will supposedly transport food, medical supplies, and fuel to the Filipino fishermen. Undeniably, the tension between PH and China is escalating since the past few months and the latter is asserting its sovereignty in almost all areas of the South China Sea now.
According to the report, the Chinese government recently released a statement where it accused the Philippines of repeatedly sending “maritime police vessels to attempt to intrude into Xianbin Jiao (Sabina Shoal).
China also said that PH has “deliberately rammed Chinese law enforcement vessels” in an allegedly dangerous way. It claimed that they had taken the necessary measures in accordance with the laws and regulations.
“China is committed to properly managing differences through dialogue and consultation, but patience is limited,” the Chinese government said in its statement.