Aussie envoy urges China: Follow UNCLOS; stop SCS incursions
By Raymund Antonio and Raymund Antonio
Published Apr 30, 2023 07:48 am
Australia called for “peace, stability and respect” for the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) following the incessant incursions being made by China in disputed areas of the South China Sea.
A photo from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) showing a Chinese ship cutting into the path of its vessel. (Ted Alibi/AFP)
Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Hae Kyong Yu made the call in a Twitter post after she expressed concern over what she said China’s “unprofessional and dangerous conduct” against the Philippines. She cited a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) report that said it spotted more than 100 Chinese vessels, including a warship and coast guard ships, during its maritime patrols in the West Philippine Sea from April 18 to 24. According to the PCG, the BRP Malapascua and BRP Malabrigo counted over 100 Chinese Maritime Militia (CMM) vessels, People’s Liberation Army Navy corvette, and two China Coast Guard (CGG) vessels. “The PCG has already submitted a report to the National Task Force West Philippine Sea (NTFWPS), highlighting the presence of a Chinese warship, the continued appearance of alleged CMM vessels within the Philippines' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), as well as the aggressive actions of the CCG against PCG vessels,” PCG spokesman Commodore Jay Tarriela said in a statement. He gave an update on its patrol almost a week after one of the two ships engaged in a near-collision with a Chinese coast guard vessel in the vicinity of Ayungin Shoal, which is within the Philippine’s EEZ. “Australia reiterates our call for peace, stability and respect for UNCLOS in the South China Sea, a vital international waterway,” Yu’s post said. China, in 2009, submitted to the United Nations (UN) its “nine-dash line” claim that covers the entire South China Sea, including parts of the Philippines’ western seaboard from the provinces of Ilocos Norte up to Palawan. China’s claim, however, has been repeatedly called invalid and not in accordance with UNCLOS, which the Philippines ratified in 1986 and China in 1996. The Permanent Court of Arbitration upheld in July 2016 the Philippines' position and debunked China' so-called nine-dash line concept.
A photo from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) showing a Chinese ship cutting into the path of its vessel. (Ted Alibi/AFP)
Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Hae Kyong Yu made the call in a Twitter post after she expressed concern over what she said China’s “unprofessional and dangerous conduct” against the Philippines. She cited a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) report that said it spotted more than 100 Chinese vessels, including a warship and coast guard ships, during its maritime patrols in the West Philippine Sea from April 18 to 24. According to the PCG, the BRP Malapascua and BRP Malabrigo counted over 100 Chinese Maritime Militia (CMM) vessels, People’s Liberation Army Navy corvette, and two China Coast Guard (CGG) vessels. “The PCG has already submitted a report to the National Task Force West Philippine Sea (NTFWPS), highlighting the presence of a Chinese warship, the continued appearance of alleged CMM vessels within the Philippines' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), as well as the aggressive actions of the CCG against PCG vessels,” PCG spokesman Commodore Jay Tarriela said in a statement. He gave an update on its patrol almost a week after one of the two ships engaged in a near-collision with a Chinese coast guard vessel in the vicinity of Ayungin Shoal, which is within the Philippine’s EEZ. “Australia reiterates our call for peace, stability and respect for UNCLOS in the South China Sea, a vital international waterway,” Yu’s post said. China, in 2009, submitted to the United Nations (UN) its “nine-dash line” claim that covers the entire South China Sea, including parts of the Philippines’ western seaboard from the provinces of Ilocos Norte up to Palawan. China’s claim, however, has been repeatedly called invalid and not in accordance with UNCLOS, which the Philippines ratified in 1986 and China in 1996. The Permanent Court of Arbitration upheld in July 2016 the Philippines' position and debunked China' so-called nine-dash line concept.