China on water cannon blast: Professional, restrained, beyond reproach

MANILA, Philippines — China has justified the use by its coast guard of a water cannon on Philippine vessels delivering provisions to a military outpost in Ayungin Shoal, saying the action was “professional, restrained and beyond reproach.”

“Under such circumstances, China has no choice but to make necessary responses, and the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) has implemented appropriate measures in accordance with the law,” the Chinese embassy said in a statement yesterday.

The embassy statement came after Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro summoned Ambassador Huang Xilian over the Aug. 5 water cannon incident wherein a CCG ship stopped Philippine vessels from approaching the grounded BRP Sierra Madre to unload provisions for a small Marine outpost.

China is accusing the Philippines of disregarding what it called repeated calls that it refrain from sending ships to Ayungin Shoal, which is within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

The embassy said Huang’s statement was an elaboration of China’s stance on the Ayungin Shoal issue. It claimed the Philippines has repeatedly taken unilateral actions that undermine existing consensus, and challenged the status quo of management and control.

The embassy also claimed that China has repeatedly expressed its serious concerns to the Philippines through multiple channels to prevent accidents at sea.

China, facing a growing international backlash for its vessels’ menacing and dangerous maneuver, has suggested the holding of further talks with the Philippines to manage the situation, as well as the exclusion of “third-party forces.”

“The Chinese side has been waiting for feedback from the Philippine side, and hopes that the two sides will start negotiations as soon as possible, to jointly maintain peace and tranquility in the relevant waters,” the embassy said. But it was Beijing’s maritime communication link that was unreachable to the Philippines for several hours after the incident, for which the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has expressed disappointment.

Lazaro reiterated to the Chinese that the binding July 2016 arbitral award expressly stated that Ayungin Shoal is “within the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf of the Philippines.”