Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) expressed an openness to collaborating with the Philippines to deter Chinese intervention into the navigational freedoms of both countries. This comes days after the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) blocked a two-vessel humanitarian mission on August 25 by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to outposts in the Scarborough Shoal, Sabina Shoal, Sandy Cay, and Subi Reef.
The MOFA hinted at greater cooperation between the two nations. It said that when it comes to regional peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific, Taiwan is “willing to cooperate with any other nation with shared values in areas of common concern.”
The PCG sighted what it called the CCG’s “excessive force” of 40 vessels plus 31 Chinese militia forces scattered around the nearby Escoda Shoal.
China and the Philippines have been locked in maritime row since 2012 over territorial claims in the South China Sea. Despite the latter winning a case in the Permanent Court of Arbitration, Beijing continues to dispute the decision. In recent years, the both sides have been caught in several testy encounters.
PCG Spokesperson Jay Tarriela said that the Chinese ships “deliberately rammed and collided with the BRP Teresa Magbanua three times, despite no provocation from the Philippine Coast Guard.”
The MOFA said China is using “rights protection” as a pretext for “illegal, threatening, coercive, and other non-peaceful means to interfere with the navigation of other countries’ vessels. This is raising regional tensions.”
The embassies of the United States, New Zealand and Australia condemned the incident. Australia’s Hae Kyong Yu called it “destabilizing and unacceptable conduct.”
Meanwhile Liu Dejun, CCG spokesperson, says that the PCG is the one who rammed into them. It also called the Philippine presence in the waters as provocative and warned of consequences. It urged Manila to immediately withdraw their ships to rectify its errors.
Tarriela hit back at the CCG’s comments saying China has no regard for the safety of its forces since it purposefully presses them into skirmishes so it can gain the “support of its domestic audience, whom they mislead with fake news and misinformation.”
MOFA urged all to adhere to an international consensus of freedom of navigation. “Taiwan opposes any threat to security in the South China Sea or actions that harm the regional status quo of peace and stability,” it said.
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TNL Editor: Kim Chan (@thenewslensintl)
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Publish date : 2024-09-02 22:44:00
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