DFA lauds Quad statement condemning SCS actions

The Philippines, through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), has lauded the foreign ministers of the Quad (United States, Japan, India, Australia) for their statement condemning "dangerous and provocative actions" in the South China Sea, including the use of water cannons on vessels.

The DFA stated that the Quad's focus on these actions aligns with the incidents the Philippines regularly contends with in the West Philippine Sea.

This joint communique reflects the international community's strong objection to illegal, coercive, aggressive, and deceptive actions in the West Philippine Sea and the South China Sea.

The Quad foreign ministers reaffirmed their commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific region, emphasizing the need for adherence to international law, particularly the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The grouping expressed concern over dangerous maneuvers by military aircraft and coast guard and maritime militia vessels, specifically noting the unsafe use of water cannons and ramming or blocking actions in the South China Sea.