Published October 16, 2023
MANILA – The Philippine military has called out China to stop “unsafe actions” in the South China Sea, after a Chinese navy ship shadowed and attempted to cut off a Philippine navy vessel conducting a resupply mission late last week.
A Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessel came as close as 350 yards as it tried to cross in front of the Philippine ship near Thitu island, Manila’s biggest and most strategically important outpost in the South China Sea, according to armed forces chief Romeo Brawner.
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SOURCE: https://www.bworldonline.com/the-nation/2023/10/16/551749/philippines-denounces-china-for-dangerous-and-offensive-actions-in-south-china-sea/
RELATED: Philippines Again Calls Out China For ‘Unsafe Actions’ in South China Sea
The criticisms followed another close call in contested waters, this time in the vicinity of Philippine-occupied Thitu Island.
Published October 16, 2023
The Philippine military has once again called on China’s government to cease its “unsafe actions” in the South China Sea, after a Chinese navy ship shadowed and attempted to cut across the bow of a Philippine navy vessel conducting a resupply mission late last week.
In a statement late yesterday, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) alleged that a Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessel crossed a Philippine Navy transport ship’s bow at a distance of 350 yards, not far from Thitu Island, the Philippines’ largest and most strategically important outpost in the South China Sea. The Philippine Navy’s BRP Benguet was reportedly en route to Commodore Reef, where the Philippines maintains a small military outpost.
According to the AFP, the BRP Benguet issued consecutive radio challenges to the PLAN warship and demanded that it steer clear from its path. The Chinese ship responded by citing “their so-called and patently baseless ‘10-dash line’ narrative,” the AFP said. It also released a video of the incident, which shows the alleged Chinese vessel approaching the path of a Philippine ship, before veering away.
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SOURCE: https://thediplomat.com/2023/10/philippines-again-calls-out-china-for-unsafe-actions-in-south-china-sea/
RELATED: Gibo laughs off China’s accusation on PH ‘provocation’
BRP Cabra is blocked by two China Coast Guard vessels during a resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea on Aug. 22, 2023. (Courtesy of Philippine Coast Guard)
Published October 16, 2023
Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. dismissed China’s accusation that the Philippines is doing provocative actions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
Teodoro said that China’s accusation would not affect the patrol operations of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in WPS.
“Walang epekto ito sa operations natin, at kung tatawagin tayong provocative… ang provocative kung doon tayo magpatrol sa 200 nautical mile EEZ [exclusive economic zone] nila, kung mangisda tayo doon. Sila ang nanghihimasok dito so paano tayo magpoprovoke sa kanila? Katawa-tawa naman ang mga statement na ganyan (It has no effect on our operations, and if they will call us provocative, what’s provocative is if we will patrol within their 200 nautical mile EEZ, if we fish there. But it’s them who intrude us so how come we are the ones provoking? That statement is laughable),” Teodoro said on Friday, Oct. 13.
The defense chief said only China is believing their propaganda as many countries support the Philippines’ position in the WPS.
“Sila na lang naniniwala sa propaganda nila. Lalo tayong hindi nakakapaniwala sa mga ganyang salita eh (They are the only ones who believe their propaganda. It makes us doubt them even more with those kind of words). It gives us really doubt where they are coming from, and what kind of sincerity they are proving to the Filipino people with these kind of statements,” Teodoro said.
China is claiming a major portion of the South China Sea (SCS), including portions of the WPS.
