MANILA, Philippines – Japan’s Ambassador to the Philippines Endo Kazuya said early on Sunday, September 1, that Tokyo was “seriously concerned over the repeated incidents including yesterday’s collision by a CCG [China Coast Guard] vessel against a [Philippine] vessel.”
“As a stakeholder of SCS [the South China Sea], seriously concerned over the repeated incidents including yesterday’s collision by a CCG [China Coast Guard] vessel against a [Philippine] vessel. [Japan] opposes any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion,” said Endo in a post on the Embassy’s official X (Twitter) account.
“[Japan] stands together with [the Philippines] by upholding rule of law at sea,” he added. Japan is among the Philippines’ strategic partners. The two countries also recently signed a deal that would allow its defense forces to train in each others’ soil, although this has yet to be ratified by the Philippine Senate and Japan Diet.
The Japanese Ambassador’s statement comes after a CCG vessel rammed the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)’s BRP Teresa Magbanua in Escoda (Sabina) Shoal on August 31.
The Magbanua, a Japan-made 97-meter vessel, has been on “extended patrol” in Escoda Shoal since April 2024, initially over concerns that China was trying to reclaim Escoda Shoal. China has denied the allegation and has protested the Magbanua’s extended stay in the shoal, located just 75 nautical miles away from Palawan in the Philippines.
The Magbanua, which arrived in Manila from Japan in early 2022, sustained damage including a gaping hole on its hull, according to photos from the PCG. But the Philippines said it will “remain and maintain its operations in the West Philippine Sea,” despite the damage. The Philippines calls parts of the South China Sea that includes its exclusive economic zone the West Philippine Sea.
Japan has had to deal with Chinese incursions, too. On August 31, Japan protested Chinese naval survey vessels that entered Japanese waters. This was the second documented incursion of the Chinese military into Japan in less than a week.
In a separate post on X, the European Union, through its Ambassador-Designate to Manila Massimo Santoro, said the bloc was “deeply concerned with the repetition of incidents, the EU reiterates its call for observance of freedom of navigation and maritime safety in the South China Sea, in accordance with International Law.”
Australian Ambassador to the Philippines HK Yu, in an X post, said Canberra “shares the Philippines’ concerns about China’s destabilizing behavior at Sabina Shoal in the South China Sea.” “Repeatedly ramming vessels is unacceptable & dangerous. All countries must comply with international law. The 2016 Arbitral Award is binding on its parties,” she said.
Like Japan, Australia is a strategic partner of the Philippines. Canberra also has a military training agreement with Manila, similar to the decades-old US-Philippine Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).
American Ambassador to Manila MaryKay Carlson, in her own X post, said the US “condemns the multiple dangerous violations of international law by the PRC.” “We stand with the Philippines in upholding international law,” she added.
The State Department has also since released a statement in support of Manila.
The August 31 incident in Escoda punctuates a month filled with incidents and confrontations — including collisions — between the Philippines and China in the West Philippine Sea. The Philippines has also reported incidents of China using flares against aircraft and water cannons against ships.
Escoda Shoal, in particular, has turned into a flashpoint for tensions between the two countries. China rammed PCG vessels that was passing through some 20 nautical miles away from the shoal on August 19. Days later, when a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) ship tried to reach Escoda Shoal to bring supplies for fisherfolk, it was rammed and met with the CCG’s water cannons.
An August 26 attempt to bring supplies to the Magbanua through two smaller, Japan-made PCG vessels, was disrupted by 40 Chinese ships blocking their paths. The Philippines eventually brought supplies to the Magbanua via chopper.
China does not recognize the Philippines’ 2016 Arbitral Award victory and continues to insist — wrongly — that it has sovereignty rights over maritime features in the West Philippine Sea.
Following a historic leaders meeting in Washington DC in April 2024, the Philippines, Japan, and US expressed “serious concern” over China’s actions both in the South China Sea and East China Sea. – Rappler.com