(DailyAnswer.org) – The Philippines have accused China of acting aggressively in the South China Sea as the country responds with similar accusations of provocative behavior by the US ally. Accused of infringing upon Chinese territory, the Philippines insisted they were complying with domestic and international law, as Colonel Medel Aguilar claimed that it was only China committing violations. China has been claiming large areas of energy-rich waters for months, resulting in some supply routes to Philippine-held features such as Second Thomas Schoal being blocked. Chinese ships are even alleged to have used sonic weapons.
China’s state-controlled newspaper the People’s Daily has warned the Philippines against causing trouble in these maritime zones, accusing the country of repeatedly trespassing in Chinese territory and suggesting they are on the verge of making a serious miscalculation. Second Thomas Schoal in particular was singled out in these allegations. China expressed anger in early December 2023 over the US sending a naval ship into waters close to the contested region, and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has warned that the Philippines face a resolute response if the country does not exercise proper caution.
The Philippines are not the only nation in South Asia troubled by the “nine-dash-line” boundary of the Chinese national map, as Malaysia, Brunei, Taiwan and Vietnam also have reason to be concerned about the nation claiming waters close to their coastlines. The line first appeared on China’s maps in 1947, and the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague ruled in 2016 that historic claims had no legal basis and could not be used by China to claim areas of the South China Sea. China’s then naval chief Wu Shengli announced at the time of the ruling that the country would not cease its attempts to turn reefs in the contested region into manmade islands complete with military-grade airstrips.
President Joe Biden has stressed the White House’s commitment to the “ironclad” defense of its oldest ally in Asia, reiterating that the treaty encompasses any assets belonging to the Philippines that might be attacked in the South China Sea.
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