Philippines accuses China of ‘harassing’ a scientific research vessel in the South China Sea
Filipino fishermen watch a Chinese patrol boat on the disputed Scarborough Shoal in this photo taken in 2017 – Photo: REUTERS
Suing China for harassing scientific research ships
According to CNN, in a statement on May 31, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said: summoned a high-ranking official of the Chinese Embassy to protest the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessel “harassing” the RV Legend – a Taiwanese ship – which was conducting research with Philippine scientists. in the west coast of the Philippines.
DFA said that they summoned Chinese officials on April 13 and the above incident took place at the end of March and lasted until April. The reason the Philippines has only spoken out until now is because the DFA said they needed it. review detailed reports of the incident for appropriate diplomatic action.
The DFA said the Chinese vessel’s behavior “clearly violates the maritime jurisdiction of the Philippines”.
The DFA reiterated that only the Philippine Coast Guard has enforcement jurisdiction over these waters. The DFA believes that the presence of foreign ships in the above-mentioned waters is inconsistent with article 19 of UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) and goes against the interests of the Philippines.
“We assure the Filipino people that the role of the DFA in upholding the interests of the Philippines and protecting and preserving national security and territorial integrity remains unwavering,” the DFA added.
“These incidents demonstrate Beijing’s determination to control maritime activities within the nine-dash line and pose a high risk of collisions at sea,” said the Asian Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI). – of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) – said.
Oppose unilateral fishing ban
According to Reuters news agency, in another statement also on May 31, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs opposed China unilaterally imposing a fishing ban in the East Sea.
The Chinese side has issued a fishing ban on East Sea, takes effect from May 1 and is expected to last 3 months. The scope of the ban covers part of the Gulf of Tonkin waters and Vietnam’s Hoang Sa archipelago.
The Chinese Embassy in Manila has not yet commented on the accusations by the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs.
Last week, new Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he would defend the sovereign territory and counter China’s encroachment. During a press conference on May 26, Mr. Marcos affirmed that he would continue to use the 2016 South China Sea ruling to protect national sovereignty and Manila was determined not to lose an inch of land.
Earlier, on May 18, Ferdinand Marcos Jr had a phone conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Mr. Marcos, who will officially take office as president on June 30, affirmed that he will raise bilateral relations with China to new heights.
Meanwhile, Mr. Xi affirmed that China is “the partner of the Philippines in times of prosperity and in times of trouble”.
China’s fishing ban violates Vietnam’s sovereignty
On April 29, answering a reporter’s question about Vietnam’s reaction to China’s issuance of a three-month fishing ban in the East Sea, including Vietnam’s waters, a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Vietnamese diplomat Le Thi Thu Hang said Vietnam’s stance on China’s fishing ban in the East Sea is consistent and well-confirmed over the years.
Accordingly, part of the scope of the fishing ban violates Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Paracel Islands, and Vietnam’s sovereign rights and jurisdiction are determined under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The Law of the Sea in 1982, the Agreement on the delimitation of the Gulf of Tonkin between Vietnam and China signed in 2000, “emphasized Ms. Hang.
A spokesman for the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Vietnam asks China to respect Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Paracel Islands, sovereign rights and jurisdiction over Vietnam’s seas when implementing measures. conservation of biological resources in the East Sea area, without complicating the situation, contributing to maintaining peace, stability and order in the East Sea area.
at Blogtuan.info – Source: tuoitre.vn – Read the original article here
