South Korea ‘deeply concerned” over collision of PH, China vessels in SCS

The Korean Embassy on Thursday expressed “deep concern” over the latest collision incident between the vessels of the Philippines and China in the South China Sea.

“The ROK Embassy in the Philippines is deeply concerned about the dangerous situation caused by collision between the Chinese and the Philippine vessels and use of water cannons against the Philippine vessels in the South China Sea,” said the Korean Embassy in Manila on X (formerly Twitter).

The ROK Embassy in the Philippines is deeply concerned about the dangerous situation caused by collision between the Chinese and the Philippine vessels and use of water cannons against the Philippine vessels in the South China Sea. (1/3)

— Korean Embassy in the Philippines (@KoreanEmbassyPH) March 6, 2024

“The situation threatens the safety of crew members and raises tensions in the concerned waters,” it added.

The Embassy also pointed out that “peace, stability and rules-based order in the South China Sea must be followed, including freedom of navigation and overflight according to the principles of international law, including UNCLOS.”

The Philippine vessel, BRP Sindangan, collided with a China coast guard (CCG) vessel during a resupply mission to the grounded ship BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal on Tuesday. Four people were injured in the incident after the CCG also water cannoned another Philippine boat. 

The NTF-WPS said China’s “unprovoked acts of coercion and dangerous maneuvers” against Philippine vessels have put the lives of Filipinos on board at risk and injured them.

A spokesperson for the China Coast Guard issued a statement on what it called the “illegal invasion of Scarborough Shoal by the Philippines,” without releasing further details.

The CCG statement said the incident happened near waters adjacent to Renai Reef, an area in the South China Sea that has seen numerous run-ins by China’s coast guard and Philippine vessels over the past few months.

In a subsequent statement, a CCG spokesperson asserted that the Philippines was responsible for the incident, saying the latter “ignored repeated warnings” from the China side.

The United States has “strongly condemned” China’s harassment and dangerous actions against the Philippine vessels delivering supplies to Filipino troops stationed at Ayungin Shoal.

European Union’s top diplomat in Manila, meanwhile, expressed serious concern over China’s latest dangerous maneuvers against Philippine resupply vessels in WPS.

Japan and Australia have also joined the United States and the European Union in opposing China’s latest aggressive actions.

The Philippines, China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei have been embroiled in years-long territorial disputes over resource-rich features in the South China Sea.

China claims the waters nearly in its entirety despite an international tribunal ruling invalidating such an assertion. —Jamil Santos/ VAL, GMA Integrated News