Introduction
Recent Tensions in the South China Sea
After recent tensions over the Philippines accusing the Chinese Coast Guard of firing water cannons at their boats in the disputed South China Sea, Beijing has announced something new.
China’s Response to the Situation
On Tuesday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry stressed that the South China Sea is not a “safari park” for countries outside its region.
Accident at Sea
In the statement, he also urged the United States to respect China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights.
It comes after Manila summoned the Beijing ambassador on Monday, a day after the Philippines accused the Chinese coast guard of firing water cannons at their boats in the disputed South China Sea, according to President Ferdinand Marcos.
On Sunday, the Philippine military denounced the “excessive and offensive” use of a water cannon by a Chinese Coast Guard ship to prevent a Philippine supply boat from delivering a new shipment of troops, food, water and fuel to the Philippine-occupied shallow waters area (Second Thomas Bar) in disputed waters.
Chinese Ship Intercepts Philippine Ship in the South China Sea
International Support for the Philippines
The United States, the European Union and their key allies, including Australia and Japan, have also expressed support for the Philippines and concern about the actions of the Chinese ship.
One of the Busiest Shipping Lanes
Notably, disputes in the South China Sea, one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, have long been considered an Asian hotspot and a delicate fault line in the US-China rivalry in the region.
China claims near-total ownership of the strategic waterway, despite international rulings that have nullified these broad territorial claims against Beijing, such as decisions issued by the (Permanent Court of Arbitration) in 2016, an international body based in The Hague, and China rejected the decision.
Although the United States does not claim the South China Sea, it has frequently criticized China’s aggressive actions and has deployed ships and warplanes in military exercises with regional allies to support ship freedom of navigation and flight.
China has warned the United States against intervening in what it calls a “purely Asian conflict” and stressed that such intervention would have uncertain consequences.