China on Tuesday called on the Philippines to move its World War II warship from near the disputed Nansha reef in the South China Sea, which it uses as a makeshift military base.
China’s Comments
In a statement given on behalf of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a spokesperson said that the Philippines “explicitly promised several times to tow away the military vessel deliberately and illegally grounded at Ren’ai Jiao,” which “is part of China’s Nansha Qundao.”
“However, 24 years have passed and instead of towing it away, the Philippines has sought to repair and reinforce it on a large scale in order to permanently occupy Ren’ai Jiao,” the spokesperson said of the BRP Sierra Madre.
“We made it clear to the Philippines that it must not send construction materials meant for repairing and reinforcing the “grounded” military vessel on a large scale,” the spokesperson added.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry further accused Manila of “gravely” violating international law and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), which was signed between China and ASEAN countries. It urged Manila to immediately “restore Ren’ai Jiao to its original state of having no personnel or facility on it.”
China Coast Guard expels Philippine ships from territorial waters
— Zhang Heqing (@zhang_heqing) August 9, 2023
On August 5, the China Coast Guard expelled two repair ships and two coast guard ships from the Philippines that intruded into the adjacent waters of Ren'ai Jiao, part of the Nansha Islands in the South China Sea.… pic.twitter.com/ejwo8t5Si6
Renewed Demands to Tow
China’s renewed demand to tow the warship comes after the Philippines this weekend accused China’s coastguard (CCG) of firing water cannon at boats that were on a mission to resupply the Philippine vessel.
Following the incident, Manila summoned Beijing’s envoy to protest the move.
China’s foreign ministry said that the CCG’s response was “in accordance with the law to safeguard China’s sovereignty and maritime rights and interests” and that the manoeuvres were “professional, restrained and beyond reproach.”
Philippines’ Response
The Philippines responded on Tuesday, saying that it would not abandon its post at the disputed Second Thomas Shoal.
Jonathan Malaya, the assistant director general of the Philippine National Security Council, reiterated that the Philippines “will never abandon [its] post in Ayungin Shoal.” The Philippines recognises the Second Thomas Shoal as the Ayungin Shoal.
“We urge China not to escalate matters by water cannons or military-grade lasers, which places Philippines lives at risk, but by sincere negotiations and other diplomatic means,” Malaya said.