The UK on Monday (Dec 11) condemned “unsafe and escalatory techniques deployed by Chinese language vessels” in opposition to the Philippines over the weekend within the South China Sea.
In a press release, Britain’s international workplace mentioned: “The UK opposes any motion which raises tensions, together with harassment, unsafe conduct and intimidation techniques which improve the danger of miscalculation and threaten regional peace and stability.”
“Each China and the Philippines should adhere to the findings of the 2016 Arbitral Award proceedings, that are legally binding on each events,” it added.
The Philippine Coast Guard launched movies which confirmed Chinese language ships blasting water cannons at Philippine boats throughout two separate resupply missions to fishermen at Scarborough Shoal and a tiny garrison at Second Thomas Shoal on Saturday and Sunday.
Manila claimed that there was additionally a collision between Philippine and Chinese language boats on the Second Thomas Shoal.
Notably, Thomas Shoal is a area the place a number of Filipino troops are stationed on a grounded warship.
Each nations have blamed one another.
The Philippines mentioned that the navy chief Common Romeo Brawner was on board the Filipino provide boat concerned within the collision and known as the actions of Chinese language vessels a “severe escalation”.
In a press convention the place officers confirmed pictures and movies of the water cannons and the ramming, Jonathan Malaya, spokesperson of the Nationwide Safety Council, mentioned: “It is a severe escalation on the a part of the brokers of the Folks’s Republic of China.”
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China slams UK’s groundless accusations
A spokesperson on the Chinese language embassy in London mentioned Beijing firmly opposes and strongly condemns the UK’s “groundless accusations”, and has lodged stern representations with the British facet on this.
“We urge the British facet to respect China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and pursuits within the South China Sea, cease stirring up hassle and sowing discord,” the remarks posted on the embassy web site mentioned.
(With enter from companies)
