US Diplomat Continues to Urge China to Halt Aggression in South China Sea

July 15, 2024 TruthUSA

The United States recently renewed its call on the Chinese regime to stop its aggressive actions in the South China Sea, particularly against the Philippines, as a network of allies supports Washington in preserving the rule of law in the disputed waters, a U.S. diplomat said.

Speaking at a Manila forum on July 12, U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson and other counterparts from key Western and Asian allies expressed their support for the Philippines amid growing tensions with communist China in the Indo-Pacific region.

“With the backing of an increasingly interconnected latticework of alliances and partnerships, the United States continues to urge the PRC [People’s Republic of China] to cease escalatory and dangerous harassment of Philippine vessels lawfully operating in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone,” Ms. Carlson said.

She also urged Beijing “to stop infringing on the Philippines’ rights to explore, conserve, and manage natural resources; and to cease interfering with freedom of navigation and overflight of all states lawfully operating in the region.”

Since last year, the Chinese regime has harassed the Philippines’ activities in the Second Thomas Shoal within Manila’s exclusive economic zone. The most recent face-off occurred on June 17, when the Chinese coast guard rammed into Philippine boats and seized firearms, leaving several Filipinos injured, one of whom lost a finger during the incident.

The forum marked the eighth anniversary of the 2016 decision by the Permanent Court of Arbitration. The court ruled in favor of the Philippines—rejecting the Chinese Communist Party’s unlawful claims over almost the entire South China Sea—based on the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea. Beijing, however, has ignored the ruling and continued to harass the Philippines and other countries that also have claims over the disputed waters.

Ms. Carlson said Washington and its allies are “proud” to “have consistently lent their voices to calling out” incidents of the Chinese regime’s aggression in the region.

“The volume of condemnation from the international community is loud and getting louder, and it speaks to our common resolve in support of the international rules and norms that benefit us all,” she said.

Meanwhile, dozens of protesters held a rally in suburban Quezon City to mark the anniversary of the arbitration ruling. They waved small Philippine flags and displayed posters that read, “China out!” and “Long live the arbitral ruling victory.”

In her speech, Ms. Carlson also praised the 73-year-old alliance between the United States and the Philippines, with both countries conducting more than 500 joint military exercises that continue to grow. Washington has repeatedly reaffirmed its “ironclad” commitment to the 1951 U.S.–Philippine defense treaty, which requires both nations to support each other if either country is attacked.

The Philippines has been seeking to build security alliances to strengthen its military’s limited capability to defend Manila’s territorial interests in the South China Sea.

Last week, the Philippines and Japan signed a defense pact to boost cooperation. The agreement allows the two countries to deploy their forces on each other’s territories for joint military exercises, including live-fire drills and disaster response. The pact with the Philippines is Japan’s first defense deal in Asia.

At the forum, Philippine national security adviser Eduardo Ano called for international support, urging Beijing to comply with the arbitration ruling. Manila, he said, would seek peaceful resolutions to the disputes, but will continue to stand its ground and “push back against coercion, interference, malign influence, and other tactics” that seek to jeopardize its security.

In a separate move, on July 14, Philippine coast guard spokesman Commodore Jay Tarriela appeared to mock Beijing as he expressed gratitude to the communist regime when quoting its statement from July 10, in which China’s foreign ministry said no country has the right to bully others from a “position of strength.” Mr. Tarriela also posted photos on X showing Chinese coast guard personnel attacking Philippine vessels.

The statement from China’s foreign ministry was made in response to a question about U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s remarks at the NATO summit in Washington, where he said the United States would focus on making investments at home, such as in infrastructure and technology so that Washington could approach China from a “position of domestic strength.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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