Manila Bulletin
PH questions China's commitment to de-escalate tensions in WPS after series of aggressions
The Philippines, through the National Maritime Council (NMC), has expressed doubts about China's commitment to de-escalating tensions in the West Philippine Sea after a recent ramming and water cannon incident near Escoda Shoal.
The NMC condemned the 'repeated aggressive, unprofessional and illegal actions' by Chinese maritime forces against Philippine vessels and aircraft in the past week.
The council highlighted that the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources' activities were lawful and within their mandates.
The NMC stated that Manila has not provoked Beijing, which instead employs 'deliberate and intentional harassment and intimidation' to disrupt Philippine sovereign operations and endanger Filipino personnel.
Furthermore, the NMC asserted that China's illegal actions demonstrate a 'wanton disregard' for the UNCLOS and the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award, which invalidated China's expansive claims in the region.
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Throughout August, China engaged in multiple aggressive actions against the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea.
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The Philippines is considering filing a case against China before an international tribunal following recent ramming incidents involving two Philippine Coast Guard vessels in the West Philippine Sea.
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National Security Adviser Eduardo Año asserted the Philippines' "unassailable rights" in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) during a phone call with US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan.
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A Chinese fighter jet deployed flares multiple times near a Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) patrol plane over the West Philippine Sea on August 19 and 22.
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Two Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessels, BRP Bagacay and BRP Cape Engaño, were involved in collisions with Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessels due to aggressive maneuvers by the CCG near Sabina Shoal.
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