China says it won't turn a blind eye to PH repeated 'provocations'

BEIJING — China on Thursday said it will not turn a blind eye to repeated "provocations and harassment" by the Philippines, amid heightened tensions over a spate of run-ins in the South China Sea.

Manila earlier this month accused the Chinese coastguard and maritime militia of repeatedly firing water cannons at its resupply boats, causing "serious engine damage" to one, and "deliberately" ramming another.

Calling the accusations "purely false hype," Wu Qian, a ministry spokesperson, said the Philippine side insisted on sending vessels to "intrude into" waters near a disputed shoal and "proactively rammed" a Chinese Coast Guard vessel.

At a news conference, Wu said the China Coast Guard took necessary enforcement measures which were justified and legitimate.

"China is always committed to resolving differences through dialogue and consultation and making joint efforts to maintain maritime stability, but we will not turn a blind eye to the Philippine's repeated provocations and harassment," Wu said.

A Philippine military spokesperson said earlier this week the country was not provoking conflict in the South China Sea, after Chinese state media accused Manila of relying on US support to continually antagonize China.

"[The] Philippines is not provoking conflict. We follow international law and we are only implementing our domestic law," Armed Forces spokesperson Colonel Medel Aguilar told state-run broadcaster PTV.

Aguilar said the Philippines is not conducting activities that will put vessels and seafarers in danger, and instead accused China of performing dangerous maneuvers that sometimes result in collisions at sea.

"They are the ones committing all the violations," Aguilar said, pointing out that the Philippines was just conducting activities within its territorial waters and exclusive economic zone without endangering other countries passing the area.

For him, it was China who was conducting shadowing activities, dangerous maneuvers, and water cannon attacks, as well as causing collisions.

Soured relations

Relations soured between Manila and Beijing over recent incidents in the South China Sea, including charges that China rammed a ship this month carrying Philippine military chief General Romeo Brawner Jr.

The Philippines includes areas of the South China Sea that falls within its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf as part of the West Philippine Sea.

"We urge the US to immediately stop meddling in the South China Sea issue, stop emboldening and supporting Philippine infringement and provocation, and safeguard regional security with concrete actions," Wu said at the news conference.

On Wednesday, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) dismissed China's claims about a supposed "hidden agenda" on the part of Manila's allies on the West Philippine Sea (WPS) issue.

“While it is true that there is no such thing as free lunch, unlike China, our allies do not take away our lunch especially if it is rightfully ours,” said PCG spokesperson for the WPS Commodore Jay Tarriela in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

Tarriela's response is a reaction to an editorial article in the Chinese government-supported publication Global Times.

The article read, “The Philippines must remain vigilant against the ‘enthusiasm’ displayed by the US and some other countries. There is no such thing as a free lunch, and behind the US' "enthusiasm" lies a hidden agenda.”

Tarriela said the Philippines will keep its vigilance against “bullies” and will continue to welcome countries that support its interests.— Reuters with RSJ, GMA Integrated News