China justifies the maneuvers of its ships before vessels of the Philippine Coast Guard

July 6 (EUROPA PRESS) –

The Chinese government has justified this Thursday the maneuvers of approaching two of its vessels to patrol boats of the Philippine Coast Guard in the South China Sea and which, in the eyes of the Philippines, were both illegal and dangerous.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said at a press conference that the Philippine ships entered waters for which they should have lost “permission.” Therefore, and for the sake of “territorial sovereignty and maritime order”, the two Chinese ships mobilized in a “professional” manner, Wang said.

The events took place on June 30, when Chinese ships approached two Philippine vessels that were participating in an operation by the Armed Forces. These patrols were “followed, harassed and hampered” by “considerably larger” vessels, in what the Philippine Coast Guard has described as “aggressive actions” in a statement.

The mission was completed “successfully”, but the Philippine authorities have indicated that China violates with this type of action the international convention intended to prevent naval accidents, with the sole objective of dissuading the Philippine presence on the Ayungin sandbar, one of the points in dispute in this region. “It is particularly alarming given that the Philippine Navy’s naval operation was for humanitarian purposes only,” he added.

Beijing claims sovereignty over virtually the entire South China Sea, but Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has warned on several occasions since coming to power that he will not renounce Philippine aspirations either.