Chinese Embassy slams US for backing PH in Ayungin

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The Chinese Embassy on Sunday hit back at the US Embassy after the latter sided with the Philippines over Beijing's reported interference in Manila's recent rotation and resupply (RoRe) mission to Ayungin Shoal.

“We strongly condemn the US Embassy in the Philippines’ disregard for right and wrong and its insistence on supporting the Philippines’ provocative and unlawful actions at Ren’ai Reef in China’s Nansha Qundao,” the Chinese Embassy said in a statement.

China issued the statement hours after US Ambassador to the Philippines Lee Lipton described the maneuvers by the China Coast Guard (CCG) and the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) as “dangerous” and “irresponsible.”

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) earlier said three PLAN warships and five CCG vessels, including two Houbei-class missile boats, interfered with the mission.

The AFP said the Philippine RoRe mission was temporarily suspended due to the possibility of escalation that could endanger personnel and vessels.

However, the Chinese Embassy maintained that the Philippines had “breached its commitments” while disregarding China's warnings.

“The Philippines’ provocative actions and its subsequent hype and publicity during a traditional Chinese festival seriously violated the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and severely undermined peace and stability in the South China Sea region,” it said.

The US Embassy, for its part, called on China to stop its provocations.

“We stand by our Philippine Allies and laud their professionalism and restraint. We call on the China Coast Guard and PLAN to cease the use of escalatory tactics that threaten the freedom of navigation and a free and open Indo-Pacific,” said Lipton.

China, however, told the US “to stop fanning the flames and refrain from actions that undermine regional peace and stability.”

In 2016, an international arbitral tribunal in The Hague ruled on a case brought by the Philippines challenging China's maritime claims in the South China Sea.

Among its findings, the tribunal said there was no legal basis for China to claim historic rights to resources within the sea areas falling within its nine-dash line. China has rejected the ruling and does not recognize it.— MCG, GMA News