The United States has told China to respect freedom of navigation and honor the 2016 Arbitral Ruling related to the South China Sea to avoid repetition of the near collision incidents between Chinese and Philippine vessels in the contested waterway. US Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Kritenbrink said Washington is "deeply concerned" about Beijing's "continued intimidation and harassment of Philippine vessels" as its coast guard once again held a dangerous maneuver against its Filipino counterpart. On April 19 and 23, Chinese vessels had blocked the path of Philippine vessels on patrol mission in the Ayungin Shoal, which led to a near collision incident between the two ships. Speaking at an online press conference on Wednesday morning (Manila time), Kritenbrink said such actions and behavior "is truly unacceptable" and the US "will continue to track and monitor those interactions." Photo courtesy of US Embassy in Manila

According to Kritenbrink, "the best way to prevent such instances in the future would be for the PRC (People's Republic of China) to make a commitment to uphold the rules-based international order." He also urged Beijing to respect the "freedom of navigation in the South China Sea and to abide by the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal ruling which of course is binding on both parties." The 2016 ruling affirmed the Philippine claim over the West Philippine Sea, a part of the bigger South China Sea. "We again call upon Beijing to desist from its unprovocative and unsafe conduct," Kritenbrink said. He said the US would continue regularly operating in the contested waterway to "demonstrate the principle that all countries should be able to, or are able to fly. sail and operate anywhere where international law allows." With a strengthened military alliance between the US and the Philippines, the official also said it was "somewhat puzzling" for China to claim that the Western giant is dragging Manila into conflict in the Taiwan Strait. Kritenbrink said the US and the Philippines "share vision for [a] peaceful and stable region," so it is concerning for him why China would make such a claim. "We support the maintenance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. We oppose unilateral efforts to change the status quo by either side and we insist that Cross Strait differences be resolved peacefully," he said.