Taiwan condemns latest Chinese harassment vs. PH vessels

Taiwan on Tuesday condemned China's latest aggressive actions against Philippine government vessels off an island inhabited by Filipinos in the disputed South China Sea, which is claimed by Beijing nearly in its entirety.

"The PRC’s repeated and dangerous maneuvers against Filipino vessels undermine regional peace and security and have caused damage to a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources vessel," Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement, using the acronym for China's official name, People's Republic of China.

Chinese coast guard vessels on Sunday used powerful water cannons and rammed a Philippine government vessel at least 1.6 nautical miles from Pag-Asa Island - the latest in a series of hostile actions committed by the Chinese against Filipino government personnel conducting routine missions in Philippine waters.

Manila refers to the waters as West Philippine Sea, that part of the South China Sea that is nearest to the Philippines' archipelago. 

No Filipino was reported injured, but one Philippine vessel sustained minor damage, Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela said.

China accused the Philippines of intruding into what it says are Chinese waters near a South China Sea feature called Sandy Cay, which is located between Pag-Asa and the Chinese military-controlled Subi Reef.

Beijing said its coast guard "took necessary control measures against the Philippine vessels in accordance with law and expelled them, with on-site operations (that are) professional, up to standard, legitimate and lawful."

Taiwan said it is firmly opposed "to such provocations," stressing that disputes must be resolved "peacefully in accordance with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)."

The United States, Manila's treaty ally, immediately denounced China's actions and reaffirmed its commitment to stand by the Philippines against aggression and warned China that an attack on Philippine vessels and aircraft anywhere in the South China Sea would trigger their mutual defense treaty (MDT).

The MDT, a 1951 defense pact signed between Manila and Washington, binds the two allies to come to each other’s aid from aggression and help defend the other party.

Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and the European Union also called out China's actions, saying the incident on Sunday threatens regional peace and stability. 

China considers Taiwan a part of its territory to one day be reclaimed by force if necessary.

Manila does not have diplomatic ties with Taiwan, a democratic self-ruling island which has been separated from the Chinese mainland since 1949.

China objects to any foreign contact that appears to treat Taiwan as a sovereign government.

The Philippines has bolstered its economic and people-to-people engagements with Taiwan under the Marcos administration, but said these interactions "are conducted within the bounds of One China Policy." —LDF, GMA Integrated News