MANILA, Philippines- Tinawag ng US official nitong Huwebes ang agresyon ng China sa South China Sea na “unacceptable and destabilizing,” at sinabing labag ito sa international law.
Inakusahan din ni US State Department Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink ang Beijing ng paggamit ng “coercion to intimidate partners” sa pagsita nito sa bagong karahasaan sa pinag-aagawang waterway.
Sa online press conference, iginiit ni Kritenbrink ang US commitment sa Indo-Pacific region at binigyangpdiin ang istratehiyang pamumuhunan sa collective capacity ng partners nito.
“First, we continue to focus on our diplomacy, including with partners in ASEAN to make sure that all countries, including all claimants, base their claims on international law, that all claimants commit to recognizing and respecting freedom of navigation, freedom of overflight, and the peaceful resolution of disputes,” anang opisyal.
“The United States has invested hundreds of millions of dollars, in partners’ maritime domain awareness capabilities because we believe that the more countries are able to understand what is happening in their maritime domains and defend their own interest in the maritime domains and further promote stability across the region,” sabi pa ni Kritenbrink.
“The United States continues through our own operations to be physically present, in the region on a daily basis, and we continue to fly, sell, and operate, everywhere that international law allows, demonstrating thereby that all countries share those same rights,” patuloy niya.
“So our goal, again, is to promote peace and stability, security and prosperity, promote, respect for international law, peaceful resolution of disputes, but also ensure that countries have their own ability to protect their sovereignty and their own interests.”
Inihayag ng Pilipinas nitong Martes na sinadya ng China Coast Guard vessels ang dalawang kolisyon sa Manila boats at binomba pa ng water cannon, ang isa sa mga ito, na nag-iwang sugatan sa apat na Filipino crew members.
Naganap ang insidente sa katubigan sa paligid ng Second Thomas Shoal sa Spratly Islands.
Subalit, iginiit ng China’s foreign ministry nitong Miyerkules na ang coast guard nito ay “restrained” sa nasabing insidente.
Kasunod ang pahayag ni Kritenbrink ng pagkondena ng kanyang ahensya sa aksyon ng China nitong Martes, na nagpapakita ng “disregard for the safety and livelihoods of Filipinos and international law.”
Iginiit ni US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller na batay sa international tribunal noong 2016 walang “lawful maritime claims” ang China sa katubigan sa paligid ng Ayungin, na “clearly within the Philippines exclusive economic zone.”
Patuloy naman ang pagbalewala ng Beijing sa desisyon at iginigiit ang pag-angkin nito sa South China Sea, kung saan matatagpuan ang West Philippine Sea. RNT/SA
