(RepublicanView.org) – This past week, the US accused China of “reckless disregard” and “provocations” for its recent actions in the South China Sea. Chinese coast guards reportedly blasted Filipino boats with water cannons as they approached the disputed Second Thomas Shoal with supplies for one of its outposts. Three vessels were damaged in the second such incident in two days. China also impaired communications and other equipment on separate Filipino boats the day before.
Chinese officials accused the Philippines of trespassing on its sovereign territory and attempting to occupy its land. Mao Ning, a spokesperson for the communist regime, urged the Filipino government in a statement to “stop infringing on China’s sovereignty and making provocative moves.”
Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos replied, saying China’s “illegal presence” in its waters, as well as “dangerous actions against our citizens,” amounted to an “outright and blatant violation of international law.”
According to State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller in a recent statement, China’s actions in the South China Sea amounted to interference with “lawful Philippine maritime operations.” He said moves were dangerous and disrespectful to international laws.
The UK joined in with America’s condemnation of China and said there had been “unsafe and escalatory tactics deployed by Chinese vessels” in the South China Sea over the weekend of December 10, according to Reuters. The British Foreign Office issued a statement saying it opposes “any actions which raise tensions” in the area and accused China of threatening regional peace and stability.
The Chinese embassy in London replied, telling Britain to respect “China’s territorial sovereignty” and stop its “groundless accusations.”
The Philippines is America’s most important ally in the region, and the two countries enjoy a diplomatic relationship dating back to the end of the Second World War. In November, they signed a landmark deal allowing Washington to export nuclear technology to the Filipino capital, Manila. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said at the time that America would work with the Philippines to “develop small modular reactors and other civilian nuclear energy infrastructure.”
The parties signed the deal at the APEC Summit in San Francisco in late November, but Congressional approval is needed for its terms to take effect. “Nuclear energy is one area where we can show the Philippines-U.S. alliance and partnership truly works,” President Marcos said in a speech.
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