PH, US SECURITY ADVISERS DISCUSS LATEST AYUNGIN SHOAL INCIDENT
National Security Adviser Año has discussed with his United States' counterpart the recent violent incident in Ayungin Shoal involving the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG), the National Security Council (NSC) said Friday.
In a statement, the NSC said Año and US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan tackled the “escalatory and violent actions against Philippine servicemen” in their conversation on Thursday.
“The two NSAs also underscored the critical role of Manila's transparency policy on the West Philippine Sea and the primacy of resolving disputes through peaceful means as well as upholding a rules-based international order,” the NSC said.
According to the NSC, Año pointed out the Philippines' firm resolve to protect its sovereign rights in its exclusive economic zone as well as its national interest.
He also expressed his appreciation for the US’ continuing support and assurances of “ironclad commitment” to their alliance.
On June 17, a Philippine Navy sailor lost his thumb and several others were injured after CCG personnel repeatedly rammed Philippine Navy rubber boats to stop them from delivering food supplies, firearms, and other necessities to troops stationed at BRP Sierra Madre.
The CCG personnel were seen brandishing knives, an axe, and pointed sticks.
Based on the videos and photos released by the Philippine military, the Navy boats were slashed and the navigational screen was smashed.
Washington’s Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell "raised serious concerns" about Chinese actions in a call with Executive Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu, the US State Department said Thursday.
Campbell has reiterated that "US commitments to the Philippines under the Mutual Defense Treaty remain ironclad," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the Chinese Embassy in Manila said that the US has played a dishonorable part ''by stirring up confrontation and hyping up tension for its own geopolitical interest.''
''When diplomatic efforts are being made by China and the Philippines to manage differences, the United States stokes the situation instead of promoting peace and facilitating talks. History and facts show that the United States has never been a solution to but rather the problem itself,'' the Embassy said.
For the Chinese Embassy, Washington's application of international law and international order has been “selective.”
''It sends aircraft and warships to the South China Sea to flex muscles under the pretext of exercising freedom of navigation. Its true intention is not promoting regional peace and stability, but ensuring 'freedom of rampage' of its own aircraft and warships,'' it said.
The Philippines and the US have committed to invest in Washington’s rotational force posture under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), according to the Pentagon on Wednesday.
Pentagon Press Secretary Major General Pat Ryder said Defense chiefs Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and Lloyd J. Austin III had a phone call after the violent incident in Ayungin Shoal.
EXPLAINER: What is the Ayungin Shoal and why is it important?
“Both officials also reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the U.S.-Philippine alliance in support of their shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific, including through cooperation with like-minded partners and bilateral initiatives to strengthen information-sharing, enhance the capability of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and invest in U.S. rotational force posture under the EDCA,” he said in a readout.
Beijing claims almost the entire South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion in annual ship commerce. Its territorial claims overlap with those of the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei.
Manila refers parts of the waters within its exclusive economic zone as the West Philippine Sea.
In 2016, an international arbitration tribunal in the Hague ruled that China's claims over the South China Sea had no legal basis, a decision Beijing does not recognize. —KBK, GMA Integrated News
This article PH, US security advisers discuss latest Ayungin Shoal incident was originally published in GMA News Online.
2024-06-28T06:02:53Z dg43tfdfdgfd