Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 22) — Foreign officials took to social media on Sunday to condemn China’s actions that led to collisions between Chinese ships and Philippine vessels in the West Philippine Sea.
The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) said the incident happened during a routine Rotation and Resupply mission to BRP Sierra Madre on Ayungin Shoal.
The NTF-WPS called the Chinese vessels’ moves “provocative, irresponsible and illegal” as the incident “imperiled the safety of the crew” of the Filipino vessels, and condemned the act “in the strongest degree,” adding that the collision violated Philippine sovereignty, rights, and jurisdiction.
United States Ambassador MaryKay Carlson was among the first foreign officials to express support for the country, saying China’s actions put the lives of Filipino service members at risk.
“We stand with our #FriendsPartnersAllies in protecting sovereignty and in support of a #FreeAndOpenIndoPacific,” she said.
Canada, meanwhile, called China’s actions “unjustified,” adding that it had “no lawful claim to the West Philippine Sea.”
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Economic Zone, in the vicinity of Ayungin Shoal.
The PRC’s actions are unjustified. China has no lawful claim to the West Philippine Sea. Its actions are incompatible with the obligations of a signatory to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. (2/4) pic.twitter.com/XRoZn4GuRH
— Canada in the Philippines (@CanEmbPH) October 22, 2023
