US envoy calls out China for its ‘unprofessional’ maneuvers in disputed sea

UNITED States Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay L. Carlson expressed concern over the “unprofessional” maneuvers of the Chinese Coast Guard against its Philippine counterpart during their latest encounter in an area in the disputed waters that is considered part of Philippine territory.

“The PRC’s (People’s Republic of China) irresponsible behavior in the South China Sea threatens the security and legal rights of our treaty ally, the Philippines,” said Ambassador Carlson in her Twitter account.

According to the PCG report, two Chinese coast guard vessels, six Chinese militia vessels, and a People’s Liberation Army (PLA) ship – harassed and shadowed two coast guard ships inside the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

“We call on the PRC to comply with international law, including implementing the legally binding 2016 award in the Philippines v. China Law of the Sea Convention arbitration as a starting point to achieve a #FreeAndOpenIndoPacific,” the American envoy added.

Based on the 2016 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, the Philippines has sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea in the South China Sea.

China’s Foreign Ministry, in a statement, said it was the Philippine Coast Guard that “intruded” into its territory and therefore, “in accordance with the law, carried out law enforcement activities to uphold its sovereignty and maritime order.”