PH, US, Japan, Australia slam China over 'destabilizing conduct' in South China Sea | ABS-CBN
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PH, US, Japan, Australia slam China over 'destabilizing conduct' in South China Sea
PH, US, Japan, Australia slam China over 'destabilizing conduct' in South China Sea
HONOLULU, Hawaii — The defense ministers of US, Japan, Australia, and Philippines issued a joint statement Friday calling out China's "dangerous deployment of coast guard and maritime militia vessels" in the South China Sea amid the escalating tensions in the disputed West Philippine Sea.
HONOLULU, Hawaii — The defense ministers of US, Japan, Australia, and Philippines issued a joint statement Friday calling out China's "dangerous deployment of coast guard and maritime militia vessels" in the South China Sea amid the escalating tensions in the disputed West Philippine Sea.
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Australian Minister for Defence Richard Marles, Japanese Minister of Defense Kihara Minoru, and US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III made the call following their quadrilateral meeting at the US Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) Headquarters in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Australian Minister for Defence Richard Marles, Japanese Minister of Defense Kihara Minoru, and US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III made the call following their quadrilateral meeting at the US Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) Headquarters in Honolulu, Hawaii.
"The [defense ministers] reiterated serious concerns regarding China's repeated obstruction of Philippine vessels' exercise of high seas freedom of navigation and the disruption of supply lines to Second Thomas Shoal, which constitute dangerous and destabilizing conduct," the statement read.
"The [defense ministers] reiterated serious concerns regarding China's repeated obstruction of Philippine vessels' exercise of high seas freedom of navigation and the disruption of supply lines to Second Thomas Shoal, which constitute dangerous and destabilizing conduct," the statement read.
Second Thomas Shoal, which Manila calls Ayungin, is where the BRP Sierra Madre has been grounded since 1999 as an outpost of the Philippines. Resupply misisons to Ayungin have been met with radio challenges, water cannons and dangerous maneuvers by Chinese vessels.
Second Thomas Shoal, which Manila calls Ayungin, is where the BRP Sierra Madre has been grounded since 1999 as an outpost of the Philippines. Resupply misisons to Ayungin have been met with radio challenges, water cannons and dangerous maneuvers by Chinese vessels.
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Days earlier, at least two China Coast Guard vessels fired water cannons on both sides of the BRP Bagacay, which was on its way to Bajo de Masinloc (Panatag, Scarborough) to assist the BFAR ship on its humanitarian mission.
Days earlier, at least two China Coast Guard vessels fired water cannons on both sides of the BRP Bagacay, which was on its way to Bajo de Masinloc (Panatag, Scarborough) to assist the BFAR ship on its humanitarian mission.
The PCG said the BFAR ship was also rammed by some Chinese vessels and harassed with water cannons.
The PCG said the BFAR ship was also rammed by some Chinese vessels and harassed with water cannons.
The defense secretaries also urged China to "adhere to the final and legally binding 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Tribunal Award" that debunked the "nine-dash line" map, which serves as basis for Beijing's claim in the strategic waterway.
The defense secretaries also urged China to "adhere to the final and legally binding 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Tribunal Award" that debunked the "nine-dash line" map, which serves as basis for Beijing's claim in the strategic waterway.
In the Honolulu meeting, the leaders also discussed enhancing defense cooperation, including maritime activities and capacity building in order to advance their "shared vision for a free, open, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific."
In the Honolulu meeting, the leaders also discussed enhancing defense cooperation, including maritime activities and capacity building in order to advance their "shared vision for a free, open, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific."
NEW COMMANDER
Meanwhile, the newly-installed commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command vowed to "answer China's intrusion in the region."
Meanwhile, the newly-installed commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command vowed to "answer China's intrusion in the region."
In the change of command ceremony held in Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Hawaii on Friday (US time), Admiral Samuel Paparo committed to "action all challenges that threaten the goals required to achieve mission success."
In the change of command ceremony held in Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Hawaii on Friday (US time), Admiral Samuel Paparo committed to "action all challenges that threaten the goals required to achieve mission success."
"Our world faces a complex problem set in the troubling actions of the People’s Republic of China and its rapid build up of forces," he said.
"Our world faces a complex problem set in the troubling actions of the People’s Republic of China and its rapid build up of forces," he said.
"We must be ready to answer PRC’s increasingly intrusive and expansionist claims in the Indo-Pacific Region," he added.
"We must be ready to answer PRC’s increasingly intrusive and expansionist claims in the Indo-Pacific Region," he added.
Paparo assumed the role after the retirement of Commander John Aquilino, who held the position since 2021.
Paparo assumed the role after the retirement of Commander John Aquilino, who held the position since 2021.
Armed Forces chief of staff Romeo Brawner also attended the change of command ceremony to represent the Philippines.
Armed Forces chief of staff Romeo Brawner also attended the change of command ceremony to represent the Philippines.
The US Indo-Pacific Command is the unified combatant command responsible for the Indo Pacific region, and is one of the six geographic combatant commands defined by the Department of Defense's Unified Command Plan.
The US Indo-Pacific Command is the unified combatant command responsible for the Indo Pacific region, and is one of the six geographic combatant commands defined by the Department of Defense's Unified Command Plan.
"We will safeguard the international order characterized by transparency, cooperation, and fair competition and the rule of law," Paparo added.
"We will safeguard the international order characterized by transparency, cooperation, and fair competition and the rule of law," Paparo added.
In the same ceremony, Austin reaffirmed the US' commitment to their allies, saying they are working with allies "like never before."
In the same ceremony, Austin reaffirmed the US' commitment to their allies, saying they are working with allies "like never before."
"In the Philippines, we've expanded US access to four new sites under our Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA). In fact, this year's Balikatan is underway right now," Austin said.
"In the Philippines, we've expanded US access to four new sites under our Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA). In fact, this year's Balikatan is underway right now," Austin said.
"I’ve said many times that our two countries are more than allies — we’re family," Austin also said in a tweet.
"I’ve said many times that our two countries are more than allies — we’re family," Austin also said in a tweet.
Austin said China's actions in the region remain as a challenge.
Austin said China's actions in the region remain as a challenge.
"We still face real challenges in the region. Unfortunately, the People's Republic of China continuous to engage in increasingly coercive behavior," Austin added.
"We still face real challenges in the region. Unfortunately, the People's Republic of China continuous to engage in increasingly coercive behavior," Austin added.
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