Philippine Defense Minister Gilberto Teodoro. File | Photo credit: Reuters
Amid rising tensions between Manila and Beijing over disputed reefs and waters in the South China Sea, the Philippine defense chief said on Tuesday (27/8/2024) that China is the “biggest obstruction” to peace in Southeast Asia.
“China is the biggest disruptor of international peace in the ASEAN region,” Gilberto Teodoro said at a U.S. Indo-Pacific Command meeting in Manila, referring to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Earlier, Philippine officials said China had sent 40 “excessive forces” to block two Philippine ships attempting to deliver food and other supplies to Manila's largest coast guard vessel in disputed waters, in the latest escalation in the South China Sea territorial dispute.
China and the Philippines blamed each other on Monday for a clash on Sabina Reef, an uninhabited atoll claimed by both countries, the latest flashpoint in the most hotly contested part of the Spratly Islands, a vital global trade and security route.
China and the Philippines have separately sent coast guard vessels to Sabina Island in recent months over suspicions that the other side has taken control of the fishing atoll and may build structures there.
Hostilities between China and the Philippines have been particularly escalating since last year, with Monday's clash marking the sixth reported by the two countries in international waters and in the air. The clash has raised fears of a larger conflict that could involve the United States, the Philippines' longtime treaty ally.
The Philippine Coast Guard said “excessive force” by Chinese coast guard and navy vessels, as well as 31 suspected militia vessels, illegally obstructed the delivery of food, including ice cream, to the crew of the BRP Teresa Magbanua, as the Philippines marked National Heroes Day on Monday.
The Philippine Coast Guard said its “commitment to safeguarding national interests and ensuring safety and security at sea remains unwavering” and called on the Chinese Coast Guard to “abide by international law and cease deployment of maritime forces that may undermine mutual respect, the universally recognized foundation of responsible and friendly relations between our coast guards.” In Beijing, the Chinese Coast Guard said it had taken crackdown measures against two Philippine Coast Guard vessels that had “intruded” into waters near Sabina Reef. The statement said the Philippine vessels had repeatedly approached Chinese Coast Guard vessels, escalating the situation. The Chinese Coast Guard did not say what crackdown measures it had taken.
China is rapidly expanding its military and strengthening its territorial claims in the South China Sea, which it claims over almost the entire area. Tensions have led to frequent clashes, primarily with the Philippines, but the long-running territorial dispute also involves other claimants, including Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei.
Chinese and Philippine coast guard vessels had clashed earlier on Monday near Sabina Island, which Beijing calls Xianbin and Manila calls Escoda.
