Metro Manila, Philippines – The United States and China traded accusations over the Sept. 24 Philippine resupply mission to Second Thomas Shoal (Ayungin Shoal), with Washington condemning what it called dangerous maneuvers by Chinese vessels and Beijing accusing Manila of violating its commitments in the South China Sea.
US Ambassador to the Philippines Lee Lipton said the United States strongly condemned the use of “dangerous blocking” and other maneuvers by the China Coast Guard and the People’s Liberation Army Navy that Washington said threatened a collision with a Philippine vessel and prevented a resupply mission to Second Thomas Shoal.
“We stand by our Philippine allies and laud their professionalism and restraint,” Lipton said in a statement released Sunday, Sept. 27.
The ambassador called on the China Coast Guard and the PLAN to stop what he described as escalatory tactics that threaten freedom of navigation and a free and open Indo-Pacific.
China rejected the US statement, accusing Washington of supporting what Beijing described as the Philippines’ “provocative and unlawful actions” at Ren’ai Reef, China’s name for Second Thomas Shoal.
“We strongly condemn the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines’ disregard for right and wrong and its insistence on supporting the Philippines’ provocative and unlawful actions,” the Chinese Embassy said.
Beijing said the Philippines violated its commitments on Sept. 24 by proceeding with a resupply vessel despite what China said were warnings from its side.
China said its coast guard responded through measures including on-site monitoring, following the Philippine vessel and issuing verbal warnings.
The Chinese Embassy said the Philippine mission was intended to provide supplies to a Philippine vessel that China described as “illegally” grounded at Ren’ai Jiao.
Beijing also accused Manila of “provocative actions” and said the Philippines’ subsequent publicity surrounding the mission violated the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.
China urged the United States to stop what it called “fanning the flames” and refrain from actions it said could undermine peace and stability in the South China Sea.
The US Embassy said the Philippine mission was a “lawful and routine resupply” and praised the Philippines and the conduct of Philippine personnel during the incident.
