China declared that any “provocation” by the United States will not interfere in the “firm determination” of the Asian giant to “defend” the territories it claims in the disputed waters of the South China Sea.
“Any threat, blackmail or baseless attack is useless and cannot stop China’s firm determination and will to safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights,” said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning at a press conference.
The spokesperson stressed that her country “will continue to resolutely defend” the territories over which it claims sovereignty, and stressed that the “US plot will not succeed.”
The statements by the Chinese Foreign Ministry are in response to a statement from the US State Department in which it was stated that the mutual defense treaty between the North American country and the Philippines also applies to the waters of the South Sea.
US shows its support for the Philippines
The United States urged China to stop its “dangerous and destabilizing” behavior in the areaand showed its support for the Philippines “in the face of these dangerous and illegal actions” by Beijing.
This exchange of comments between both parties comes after the Philippines accused the Chinese coast guard of firing a water cannon and ramming its replenishment ships in the vicinity of Ayungin Atoll (known as Ren’ai in China), which caused “ serious damage to the engine” of one of the boats.
According to Philippine authorities, The collision occurred when two Philippine supply ships They were carrying out a supply mission and were surprised by “reckless and dangerous harassment at close range by the Chinese vessels” as they approached.
China declared that the operations of its coast guard during the altercation “were legitimate and professional,” and denounced that four Philippine vessels “attempted to send construction materials to an illegally stranded warship,” which “seriously violated Chinese sovereignty.”
Its about second altercation between the Philippines and China in the waters of the South China Sea, which Beijing claims almost in its entirety and where it disputes, in addition to the Philippine archipelago, territories also with Malaysia, Vietnam, Taiwan and Brunei.
Beijing alleges historical reasons, but in 2016 the Permanent Court of Arbitration agreed with Manila in its complaint against the claims of Chinese authorities, a decision that the Asian power refused to abide by.
