Hey, amigos! 🌊 Rising tensions in the South China Sea are back in the spotlight. On December 12, a fleet of Philippine vessels entered the waters around Xianbin Jiao, part of China's Nansha Qundao, sparking a heated response from Beijing.
At a press briefing today, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun accused the Philippines of "infringement, provocations and vilification," and said some ships even intruded into Xianbin Jiao's lagoon. Despite repeated warnings from the Chinese mainland side, Guo claimed that Philippine fishing vessels performed dangerous maneuvers and even threatened China Coast Guard officers with knives during lawful operations.
China insists these actions violate its sovereignty and international law, including the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC). Guo stressed that China's response has been "legitimate, lawful, professional, restrained and beyond reproach."
The U.S. State Department, however, has announced it will stand with the Philippines against what it calls "provocative actions and increasingly dangerous tactics." Beijing fired back that Washington has no right to interfere in the dispute between the concerned parties and should stop making "fact-distorting and provocative remarks."
The standoff highlights the fragile balance in one of the world's busiest shipping lanes. Observers say all sides need to dial down the rhetoric and focus on dialogue to keep the waters safe and stable. 🤝
Reference(s):
China urges Philippines to stop its infringement, provocations at sea
cgtn.com
