11-12-2023 (BEIJING) China responded on Monday (Dec 11) to accusations of aggression in the disputed South China Sea, asserting that its Coast Guard’s actions against Philippine vessels were “professional” and “restrained.” The Chinese foreign ministry lodged strong representations with the Philippines, emphasizing their protest against the recent confrontations.
Mao Ning, spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry, stated that the Coast Guard acted in accordance with domestic and international law, taking necessary measures against the Philippine ships. Mao described the operations as professional, restrained, reasonable, and legal.
The tensions escalated when videos released by the Philippine Coast Guard showed Chinese ships using water cannons against Philippine boats during resupply missions to fishermen at Scarborough Shoal and a small garrison at Second Thomas Shoal over the weekend. A collision between Philippine and Chinese boats also occurred at Second Thomas Shoal, where a few Filipino troops are stationed on a grounded warship. Both sides traded blame for the incident.
In response, the Philippines summoned China’s envoy and raised the possibility of expelling him, marking the most intense confrontations between the two countries’ vessels in years in the South China Sea.
Mao addressed the situation, stating that the responsibility for the recent tense situations around Ren’ai Reef, known as Second Thomas Shoal in China, lies entirely with the Philippines. She claimed that the root cause of the tensions was the Philippines’ failure to fulfill its promise of removing the illegally beached warship and its attempts to carry out large-scale reinforcements and achieve permanent occupation.
