US condemns dangerous China actions vs PH vessels in Ayungin Shoal

The United States on Tuesday “strongly condemned” China’s harassment and dangerous actions against Philippine vessels delivering supplies to Filipino troops stationed at Ayungin Shoal, which left four Philippine personnel hurt.

US Ambassador MaryKay.Carlson said China’s dangerous maneuvers at the shoal “endangered lives, resulted in injuries, and damaged Philippine Coast Guard vessels in the Philippine exclusive economic zone.”

“The United States stands with the Philippines and proponents of international law in support of a free abs open Indo-Pacific,” Carlson said in a statement on X.

Philippine officials said the China Coast Guard (CCG) and Chinese Maritime Militia (CMM) vessels on Tuesday morning “harassed, blocked, deployed water cannons, and executed dangerous maneuvers in another attempt to illegally impede or obstruct” a routine resupply and rotation mission to BRP Sierra Madre at Ayungin Shoal.

“Throughout the operation, the PCG vessels faced dangerous maneuvers and blocking from Chinese Coast Guard vessels and Chinese Maritime Militia,” Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela said on X (formerly Twitter).

“Their reckless and illegal actions led to a collision between MRRV-4407 and China Coast Guard 21555 that resulted to minor structural damage to the PCG vessel,” he added.

Meanwhile, the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea said in a statement: “The use of water cannons by the CCG vessels shattered the wind shield of Unaizah May 4, causing minor injuries to at least four personnel on board.”

The injured Filipino personnel were treated by the crew of Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel BRP Sindangan.

The Chinese Coast Guard, meanwhile, said it took control measures against Philippine vessels that illegally intruded into waters adjacent to the Second Thomas Shoal, which Beijing claims as its own.

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.

‘Serious concern’

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

“Troubled by today’s pattern of dangerous maneuvers and blocking from Chinese Coast Guard vessels and Maritime Militia targeting Philippine vessels engaged in crucial resupply missions,” EU Ambassador Luc Veron said in a statement on X.

World War II-era vessel BRP Sierra Madre – has been at the shoal since 1999 and serves as a Philippine military outpost at the tiny South.China Sea feature, also known by its international name, Second Thomas Shoal.

Ayungin is 105.77 nautical miles from the nearest Philippine province of Palawan and constitutes part of the country’s 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone and continental shelf as provided under a United Nations convention.

Washington has repeatedly said that it stands by its 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty commitments with the Philippines if Filipinos come under an armed attack in the disputed waters.

The MDT, a 1951 defense pact signed between Manila and Washington, binds the two allies to come to each other’s aid from aggression and help defend the other party.

Although not a party to the disputes, the US maintained that keeping the South China Sea  – a major trade route – open and accessible is within its national interest. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News