US slams China’s ‘increasingly dangerous’ moves

VIENTIANE — US Secretary of State Antony Blinken yesterday raised a warning over China’s “increasingly dangerous” and “unlawful actions” in the South and East China Seas that he said were threatening peace and stability in the region.

“We remain concerned about China’s increasingly dangerous and unlawful actions on the South and East China Seas, which have injured people, harmed vessels from ASEAN nations and contradict commitments to peaceful resolution of disputes,” Blinken told Southeast Asian leaders gathered here for the 12th Association of Southeast Asian Nations-US Summit.

“The United States will continue to support freedom of navigation and freedom of overflight in the Indo-Pacific,” Blinken said.

“We also believe it’s important to maintain our shared commitment to protect stability across the Taiwan Strait,” the US official said. Blinken was representing the US at the annual ASEAN meeting.

In remarks after Blinken’s address, President Marcos assured the US official of the Philippines’ continued support for US projects intended to advance peace, stability and prosperity of the region.

Marcos, meanwhile, raised anew recent hostile actions by the Chinese against Filipinos in the West Philippine Sea, this time at the 19th East Asia Summit. The EAS is the highest-level platform for strategic dialogue on Southeast Asia concerns.

Marcos, in his speech, urged participating countries to include initiatives that address relevant issues on the South China Sea, such as promotion of greater maritime domain awareness, more projects on marine environmental protection, safety of navigation and communication at sea, and clear rules of engagement for vessels plying the South China Sea.

President Marcos meets with New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon at the Lao National Convention Center in Vientiane, Laos yesterday.

“These should all reinforce ASEAN centrality and if implemented, provide a framework to help manage disputes in the South China Sea,” he said.

The EAS comprises 18 participating countries, including ASEAN member states like the Philippines, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, as well as Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia and the US.

“I believe we all recognize that the South China Sea is a strategic challenge that cannot be readily solved. Parties have to be conscientious and earnest concerning this most consequential issue,” Marcos said.

“We must all remain open so as to seriously manage differences and reduce tensions,” he said, noting that tensions ramain in the South China Sea.

“Last August, our vessels on routine maritime patrol endured aggression and harassment in Escoda Shoal, a feature that lies well within the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines,” Marcos said. Escoda Shoal is 70 nautical miles away from the nearest coastline of the Philippines.

“On three separate occasions, around a week apart, vessels illegally blasted horns, used water cannons, and rammed Philippine vessels,” the President said without mentioning the China Coast Guard.

“More recently, our civilian fisheries vessels and aircraft were targeted by lasers and subjected to intimidation by guided-missile ships,” Marcos said.

These incidents demonstrate China’s continued disregard for international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 1972 Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea or COLREGS, according to Marcos.

“These kinds of behavior cannot be ignored, and demand of us concerted and serious efforts to truly manage our disputes in the South China Sea,” he said.

The Philippine leader also lamented the “slow pace” of the negotiations for an ASEAN-China Code of Conduct.

“For example, even language for a concept as basic as ‘self-restraint’ remains pending. It is time that we tackle these milestone issues so that we can make substantive progress moving forward,” the President said.

“We need to hasten the process of negotiations as the risks of miscalculation and escalation of tension continue to increase,” he said.

At the 4th ASEAN-Australia Summit on Thursday, Marcos cited Australia’s consistent support for the rule of law, as embodied in UNCLOS and the “binding” 2016 arbitral award.

He said Australia’s support is “not only through timely statements,” but “also through capacity-building and academic initiatives to mainstream appreciation of international law.”