Canada has given its “unwavering” support to the Philippines following China’s military-grade laser use against a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel in the disputed South China Sea last week.
A Chinese Coast Guard struck PCG’s BRP Malapascua with a green laser light causing temporary blindness to its crew. This vessel was going to Ayungin Shoal in the Spratly Islands.
Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines David Hartman said the China’s actions were “coercive” disrupting the “lawful” operations of the said PCG vessel.
“Canada underscores its firm & unwavering support for the Philippines in the face of coercive actions of the People’s Republic of China in the South China Sea,” Hartman said in a Twitter post.
“Recent actions that disrupted the lawful operations of Philippine vessels off the coast of the Philippines are in violation of international law and contrary to the maintenance of regional peace and stability, and the rules-based international order,” he stressed.
READ: PCG reveals laser-pointing by Chinese vessel ‘already the second time’
There has been a series of maritime incidents between the Philippines and China, which claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea and has ignored an international court ruling that its claims have no legal basis.
China claims “indisputable sovereignty” over almost the entire waters, including those claimed in full or in part by the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, and Taiwan.
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. already summoned China's top envoy to Manila Huang Xilian over the latest maritime incident.
Canada is the latest to throw support to the Philippines after the United States, Japan, and Australia called out Beijing’s aggressive stance in the region.
READ: Australia, Japan raise concern with PH over China’s laser light use
Germany also expressed “serious concerns” about the laser incident involving the Chinese Coast Guard, citing that all states should observe maritime order.
“As a Party to UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea), the PRC (People’s Republic of China) must comply with its obligations, including notably the 2016 SCS Arbitration Decision,” Hartman wrote.
“Germany shares serious concerns about intimidatory action against Philippine vessels in the #westphilippinesea #SouthChinaSea. We call to refrain from any conduct that increase tensions. All states must abide by #UNCLOS. The 2016 Arbitral Award is final & legally binding,” German Ambassador to the Philippines Anke Reiffenstuel tweeted.
The Arbitral Tribunal in The Hague ruled in July 2016 that Beijing has no basis in claiming the entirety of the resource-rich waters despite the U-shaped nine-dash line found in ancient Chinese maps.